06-21-2022 - No. 8The City of Niagara Falls, Ontario
Resolution
No. 8 June 21,2022
Moved by: Councillor Wayne Campbell Seconded by: Councillor Carolynn loannoni
The Council of the City of Niagara Falls declare a state of emergency of mental health, homelessness
and addiction in the City of Niagara Falls.
The Niagara Falls City Council, at its June 21, 2022 meeting, adopted the motion as follows:
WHEREAS According to the Province of Ontario Emergency Response Plan (2008), Canadian
municipalities are free to declare state of emergencies in response to "any situation or impending
situation caused b the forces of nature, an accident, an intentional act or otherwise that constitutes a
danger of major proportions to life or property";
WHEREAS 11/12 of Niagara -area municipalities have requested that the Niagara Region declare a state
of emergency on mental health, homelessness and addiction, the Niagara Falls Council previously
unanimously supported a motion requesting the Niagara Region declare a state of emergency on mental
health, homelessness and addiction;
WHEREAS Approximately 665 residents, including 121 children in Niagara, were counted as homeless
(March 2021);
WHEREAS Niagara EMS reported 1001 suspected opiod overdoses (2021) and 210 suspected opiod
overdoses already this year (April 2022); and
WHEREAS Niagara's suicide rate of 9.8 deaths per 100,000 is higher than the provincial average of 7.7
deaths per 1,000,000 in Ontario (Stats Can.)
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED
That the City of Niagara Falls Council DIRECT Mayor Jim Diodati as the Head of Council to declare a
state of emergency on mental health, homelessness and addiction in the City of Niagara Falls; and
That this resolution BE CIRCULATED to the Ontario Minister of the Solicitor General, Emergency
Management Ontario, the Premier of Ontario, the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services, the
Ontario Associate Minister for Mental Health, all Niagara -are Members of Provincial Parliament, and all
Niagara area municipalities.
AND The Seal of the Corporation be hereto affixed. Carried Unanimously
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WILLIAM G. MATSON, CITY CLERK JAMES M. DIODATI, MAYOR