Province re-introducing legislation to help municipalities end encampments while continuing to invest in safe and supportive housing
St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe
“I am happy that Premier Ford and the provincial government have taken action that prioritizes the health and well-being of the residents of St. Catharines. The additional funding and focus will help provide the services the most vulnerable members of our community desperately need and the new legislation around open drug use protects the members of our community who know this illegal activity can’t continue in public. The issues our cities face are complicated and all levels of government must work together to build more supportive housing units, expand shelter capacity and clean up encampments.” – Mat Siscoe, Mayor of St. Catharines
Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati
“Vulnerable people need help to navigate drug addiction, mental health and social supports. It’s time for tough love and definitive action to help them achieve that and to restore dignity and safety to public spaces.” – Jim Diodati, Mayor of Niagara Falls
News from the Office of Ontario Premier Doug Ford
Posted April 30th, 2025 on Niagara At Large
TORONTO — The Ontario government is protecting communities by re-introducing legislation that will provide municipalities and police with the enhanced tools they need to end encampments and clean up our parks and public spaces.
The Safer Municipalities Act will, if passed, put protecting the safety of all residents first by helping clear public spaces and end the public use of illegal drugs.
“We have heard loud and clear from the people of Ontario: They want their parks and public spaces to be protected and safe for everyone to enjoy,” said Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
“Municipal leaders have asked for more tools and support to end encampments and public illegal drug use, and we will do whatever is necessary to help municipalities get the job done and help those facing addiction and mental health challenges.”
Ontario is investing $75.5 million to further support homelessness prevention and provide people living in encampments with access to reasonable alternative accommodation.
This includes:
- $50 million to help create 1,239 additional housing units, including 815 long-term affordable and supportive housing units across the province.
- $20 million to create 971 additional shelter and temporary accommodation spaces, including modular units, which provide people living in encampments with accessible alternative options.
- $5.5 million to top up the Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB) to immediately free-up emergency shelter spaces for people living in encampments by helping approximately 1,000 people living in shelters move into longer-term housing. These funds build on the nearly $400 million Ontario and the federal government invested in COHB between 2023 and 2024.
These investments are in addition to the province’s annual investment of nearly $700 million in homelessness prevention programs, as well as investing nearly $550 million to create 28 Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs, nine of which have already opened as of April 1, 2025.
To protect community safety in parks and public spaces, the legislation introduced today includes amendments to the Trespass to Property Act, which, if passed, would help clear encampments by enhancing penalties for people who deliberately and continually break the law by adding the new aggravating factors of continuous trespassing and the likelihood to reoffend.
The government is further protecting communities by also re-introducing the Restricting Public Consumption of Illegal Substances Act that will, if passed, allow police officers and other provincial offences officers to direct individuals to stop using illegal substances or to leave the public space.
This will allow them to issue a ticket or arrest someone who does not comply, providing an important additional tool to stop the consumption of illegal drugs in public spaces. People found guilty of violating this legislation, including those doing so in encampments, could face fines of up to $10,000 or up to six months in prison.
As part of the province’s focus on long-term treatment and recovery, the government is exploring new judicial approaches that provide the option of rehabilitation as an alternative to incarceration in the event of minor or non-violent drug crimes.
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