Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown and several Ontario mayors have urged Premier Doug Ford to use controversial measures, including the notwithstanding clause, to dismantle homeless encampments—a proposal civil rights experts warn could infringe on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
In an open letter, Brown and members of Ontario’s Big City Mayors caucus appealed for urgent action on challenges stemming from mental health, addiction, and homelessness. They called for Ford’s intervention in court rulings that complicate municipal authority over encampments, stricter drug laws, and changes to the Trespass to Property Act, including possible jail time for repeat offenders. Additionally, they proposed the creation of a drug diversion court to alleviate pressure on the justice system.
While mayors from cities like Pickering, Oakville, Barrie, and Oshawa co-signed the letter, notable absentees included Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish and Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe.
The plea comes after Ford challenged municipal leaders to prove their commitment to addressing homelessness, questioning their resolve in a previous address. However, civil liberties advocates have labeled the use of the notwithstanding clause as “profoundly problematic,” fearing it undermines constitutional rights.
This request follows a decision by the Ontario Superior Court in 2023, which ruled against Waterloo Region’s attempt to evict encampments. Brown cited the impact of Brampton’s recent removal of 50 residents from Calvert Park encampments, where many were relocated to Peel Region shelters. Critics argue that these moves have left individuals feeling isolated, without consistent access to mental health or addiction services.
Despite Peel Regional Council’s rejection of Brown’s earlier motion for mandatory treatment, citing a preference for enhanced voluntary services, Brown remains steadfast. He points to alarming statistics: over 18,000 police-attended overdoses and 328 drug-related deaths in Mississauga and Brampton from 2022 to mid-2024. With officers dedicating over 30,000 hours to hospital wait times for mental health calls, Brown argues that expanded involuntary treatment could curb overdose deaths and free up critical police resources.