It's happened.
At the 11th hour before the Ontario Legislature shut down for winter break, Doug Ford's government introduced legislation to effectively criminalize homeless people who have no choice except to live outdoors.
Bill 242, The Safer Municipalities Act — which, fortunately for us, can't be passed before the Legislature returns in March — contains very scary elements.
If passed into law, Bill 242 will criminalize people who are believed to be using drugs in public places — including in their tent. The key word here is "believed" — according to the Bill, a police officer will only have to think that a homeless person might be using drugs in order to arrest them or force them to leave their encampment.
... and they won't be offered anywhere else to go: housing, a shelter bed, a treatment centre for those seeking treatment, nothing. They will just be displaced to another park or thrown in jail.
On jail, anyone who is arrested under this proposed law can face jail time of up to six months, a $10,000 fine, or both.
Importantly, no homeless person has $10,000 sitting around, and jailing people is hugely expensive — it costs $326 a day of public tax dollars to keep someone incarcerated.
Bill 242 will also create harsher punishments for people who are considered "likely to trespass at any time in the future." Which, if you have no home, you would be very likely to trespass on public property without a private space — housing — of your own.
Ultimately, Bill 242 would make being homeless a crime.
... and most distressingly, while the Notwithstanding Clause hasn't been built into Bill 242 (because of you!), Doug Ford has said that he will use it if anyone attempts to strike the Bill down.
THE BAD NEWS
Well, you've heard most of it!
But in case it wasn't clear that Doug Ford has no intention of creating the shelter and housing that are needed to end encampments, the numbers don't lie: in his announcement for Bill 242, Ford touted an investment of $75.5 million to help Ontario municipalities create more shelter and supportive housing options.
If that seems like not much money for a province where 234,000 Ontarians are facing homelessness, it isn't: Toronto alone budgeted $979 million for affordable housing and shelter in 2024.
$75.5 million is an insulting drop in the bucket.
THE GOOD NEWS
We're continuing to make wins across Ontario municipalities by passing motions locally!
This includes a major win last night in Chatham-Kent, where their City Council voted unanimously in favour of evidence-based solutions to homelessness and homeless people's Charter rights!
Chatham-Kent's Mayor, Darrin Canniff, was one of the original Mayors who requested the Notwithstanding Clause. Last night, he changed his mind. A big win!
THE VERY GOOD NEWS
The Ontario public — meaning you! — will have the opportunity to send your comments to the Ford government about Bill 242.
Let them know what you think of Bill 242 here.
You can also continue to:
That's for now, but there will be updates to come!
In solidarity,
Diana