Ontario Premier Doug Ford spent the weekend in Barrie, Ont., where he joined Mayor Alex Nuttall in touring several of the city’s homeless encampments, including Milligan’s Pond.
Nuttall, who declared a state of emergency earlier this month over the growing encampments, has been urging the province for assistance. He said the visit was an opportunity to discuss mental health, addiction, affordable housing, and the need for stronger bylaw enforcement.
“The situation in Barrie requires co-ordination between all levels of government,” Nuttall said in a Facebook post, adding that while some encampments have already been cleared, it could take months to address the remaining sites.