11-12-2024 - No. 20 111
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CITY Or 9��.���� :CANADA
NIAGAARA FALLS
The City of Niagara Falls, Ontario
Resolution
Resolution No. 20 November 12, 2024
The Honourable Doug Ford
Premier of Ontario
Legislative Bldg Rm 281, Queen's Park
Toronto, ON M7A 1A1
Sent by e-mail: premierAontario.ca
Motion Respecting Endorsement of Ontario Big City Mayors' "Solve the Crisis"
Campaign
The Council of the City of Niagara Falls, at its meeting held on November 12, 2024, passed the following
motion:
WHEREAS an unprecedented number of Ontarians are homeless, living in
encampments and other unsafe spaces, and too many are dying from addictions and
mental health issues;
WHEREAS the province has provided additional funding for mental health,
addictions, and homelessness programs, it does not adequately address the growing
crisis and the financial and social impact on municipalities and regions across the
province;
WHEREAS, together with various community partners, the Region of Niagara has
been tackling this issue head on, funding various programs and spaces to find
solutions;
WHEREAS despite the success of many of these programs, the crisis continues to
grow and regions and municipalities need help; and
WHEREAS all of these issues fall primarily under provincial jurisdiction, and regions
and municipalities should not be using the property tax base to fund these programs.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
1. That the City of Niagara Falls, through a letter written by the Regional Chair, JOIN
Ontario's Big City Mayors in calling on the Provincial Government:
a)To appoint a responsible Ministry and Minister with the appropriate funding
and powers as a single point of contact to address the full spectrum of
housing needs as well as mental health, addictions, and wrap around
supports; and
b) Have this Minister strike a task force with broad sector representatives
including municipalities, healthcare, first responders, community services,
the business community, the tourism industry and those with lived/living
experience, to develop a Made in Ontario Action Plan;
c) To provide municipalities with the tools and resources to transition those in
encampments to more appropriate supports, when deemed necessary;
d) To commit to funding the appropriate services these individuals need,
community by community, where there are gaps in the system; and
e) To invest in 24/7 Community Hubs/Crisis Centres to relieve pressure on
emergency centres and first responders; and
2. That the Regional Chair's letter and this motion BE CIRCULATED to The
Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario; The Honourable Sylvia Jones,
Deputy Premier and Minister of Health; The Honourable Paul Calandra, Minister
of Municipal Affairs and Housing; The Honourable Michael Parsa, Minister of
Children, Community and Social Services; The Honourable Michael Tibollo,
Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions; Niagara's 12 local area
municipalities; Niagara's four MPPs; the Association of Municipalities of Ontario
(AMO); the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM); Ontario's Big City
Mayors (OBCM); and the St. Catharines Downtown Association.
AND The Seal of the Corporation be hereto affixed. Carried Unanimously
•
WILLIAM G. MATSON, CITY CLERK JAMES M. DIODATI, MAYOR
If any further information is required, please contact the undersigned at 905-356-7521, x4342.
Yours Truly,
Bill Matson
City Clerk, City of Niagara Falls