Ontarios Big City Mayors Statement on Upcoming Provincial Fall Economic Statement

October 29, 2024

Ontario’s Big City Mayors are looking forward to the release of the province’s 2024 Fall Economic Statement tomorrow. As municipalities head into their 2025 budget cycles, we are hoping to hear updates on policies and programs that address our three key priorities: the Homelessness, Mental Health and Addictions Crisis, Housing and Housing Enabling Infrastructure and Municipal Finance Reform.

Homelessness, Mental Health and Addictions Crisis

In August OBCM launched our Solve the Crisis campaign addressing the humanitarian crisis happening on our streets. 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. 

Municipalities have done everything we can, but we don’t have the resources or expertise to take this on alone. Together with various community partners, municipalities have been tackling this issue head on, funding various programs and spaces to find solutions. Despite the success of many of these programs, the crisis continues to grow and municipalities need help.

Over the last few years OBCM has requested that the federal and provincial governments address this crisis as it unfolds on our streets, affecting our downtowns, impacting our public spaces, and hurting our most vulnerable residents. 

We are thankful to the province for taking some action on this issue, including Ontario’s Roadmap to Wellness, increased funding to the Homelessness Prevention Program, investments in youth wellness hubs and the recent creation of the HART Hubs program. But it’s just not enough. This crisis spans multiple ministries and we need someone to take the lead and take action now. 

Our Solve the Crisis campaign requests that the provincial government:

• 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 required for an individual’s recovery journey.
• Have this Minister strike a task force with broad sector representatives including municipalities, healthcare, first responders, community services, the business community and the tourism industry to evaluate what is already working, along with other policy and program proposals, to develop a Made in Ontario Action Plan.

• Provide municipalities with the tools and resources to transition those in encampments to more appropriate supports, when deemed necessary
• Commit to funding the appropriate services these individuals need, community by community where there are gaps in the system, including addressing the huge need for more treatment and recovery beds.
• Invest in 24/7 Community Hubs / Crisis Centres across the province to relieve pressure on emergency centres and first responders

At our recent caucus meeting in Markham, our Mayor’s caucus passed a resolution on this crisis, building on our requests from the Solve the Crisis campaign. Additional requests of the federal and provincial governments from this resolution include:

• The province creates a blueprint, along with associated funding programs from both federal and provincial governments, for the quick build of supportive housing units, which includes units that address needs of those who have started treatment and need shelter and care as they continue their recovery journey; and
• Developing a fully funded and resourced range of compassionate care and treatment programs that strengthens the system of community-based and residential mental health & addictions treatments under the Mental Health Act and the Health Care Consent Act, ensuring that individuals in need are able to access care and treatment in a timely manner; and
• Urgently review, consult on, and update the Mental Health Act and the Health Care Consent Act to reflect the current realities of this crisis, including consultation with medical professionals, first responders and municipalities to determine whether to expand the scope of and strengthen the existing system of mandatory community-based and residential mental health and addictions care and treatment; and
• Implement Diversion Courts throughout the Province and expand the scope and reach of these courts by permitting referrals to the Diversion Court for Provincial and Municipal Offences, with a focus on rehabilitation rather than punitive measures; and
• Review, consult on, and update the Trespass to Property Act to address the public safety issues municipalities are facing within their communities. With such a review to include but not be limited to options to assist communities in addressing aggressive or repetitive trespass (“repetitive trespass”); and
• Establish for municipalities a prescribed provincial priority of maintaining public order and public safety to allow, in line with the above, stronger local deterrents to offences related to social disruption and public safety risks;
• Introduce legislation prohibiting open and public use of illicit drugs and public intoxication, whether that be by consumption of alcohol or illicit drugs, with clear enforcement provisions and public awareness campaigns to reduce the harmful impact on communities.

In the Fall Economic Statement we would like to hear to hear an update on homelessness, mental health and addictions including:

• Addressing the requests from our Solve the Crisis campaign mentioned above

• Addressing the additional requests from the OBCM Motion from October 18th, 2024 above

• An overall commitment to taking action now on this crisis, as we head into the winter months, working with local community organizations to implement the proper programs with proper resources quickly and efficiently to help those in need in our communities

Housing and Housing Enabling Infrastructure

Municipalities have been working with the province and partners in the home building process to address the housing crisis in our communities. Municipalities have committed to getting more homes built in any way we can including by streamlining application processes and reducing application fees and DCs when possible. Municipalities do not build homes but do approve building permits and service new communities including the much needed infrastructure our communities need. We want to thank the province for funding some of this housing enabling water and wastewater infrastructure through the Housing Enabling Water Systems Fund. 

In the Fall Economic Statement we would like to hear an update on housing and housing enabling infrastructure including:

• Continuing to work with municipalities on a Team Ontario approach in discussions with the federal government to unlock long term, sustainable infrastructure funding that will work for Ontario municipalities

• How you can work with municipalities  as well as others in the home building industry (including non-profits, labour, financial industry) to identify the barriers and come up with solutions to getting shovels in the ground
• A commitment to working on streamlining ministry approval processes for housing development at the provincial level, to help with the backlog of development projects that have been approved at the municipal level but are waiting on the province 

Municipal Finance Reform

This year Ontario’s Big City Mayors have met with several federal and provincial ministers to discuss the need for an overhaul to the current municipal funding system for municipalities and a service delivery review. Municipalities own and manage the majority of Ontario’s public infrastructure including roads, bridges, water systems, transit, buildings and recreational facilities. As we work to meet our housing targets, a key role for the municipality is to service these new homes and communities. As noted above, we are also providing services outside of our scope such as addressing the homelessness crisis, and providing mental health and addictions supports. 

We could be spending less time talking and more time building and delivering services, if a new deal for cities was made. This is why OBCM, AMO, FCM and many municipalities across the province are calling on both levels of government to work together with us toward a new long term, sustainable funding program.

In the Fall Economic Statement we would like to hear to hear an update on municipal finance reform including:

• A commitment from the province to sit down with municipalities and municipal organizations to review and discuss a new municipal fiscal funding system

About Ontario’s Big City Mayors

Ontario’s Big City Mayors (OBCM) is an organization that includes mayors of 29 single and lower-tier cities with a population of 100,000 or more, who collectively represent nearly 70 percent of Ontario’s population. OBCM advocates for issues and policies important to Ontario’s largest cities.

Media Contacts

Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, Chair                                  Michelle Baker, Executive Director

chair@obcm.ca                                                                      michelle@obcm.ca

905-335-7777                                                                         647-308-6602