US EditionBarrie mayor declares state of emergency to address homeless encampments
Mayor Nuttall authorized aggressive enforcement and cleanup of nearly two dozen encampments amid fires, a double homicide, hazardous waste, and an opioid crisis worsening since the pandemic.
- On Tuesday morning, Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall declared a city-wide state of emergency covering parks, sidewalks, trails and boulevards to address homeless encampments, following a Monday news release and a conference near the courthouse and Busby Centre on Mulcaster Street.
- After a summer shutdown of a large encampment linked to a double homicide and dismemberment, the city noted nearly two dozen encampments and hazardous E. coli levels in Dyment's Creek.
- Under provincial emergency law, the mayor empowered city staff to form a task force, hire consultants and contractors, and enforce encampment protocols, as Nuttall indicated residents have had enough.
- The mayor urged the province to review funding while Nuttall called on the County of Simcoe to expand shelter spaces, yet officials say timing for dismantling remains unclear and Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit did not attend the site.
- The mayor framed the emergency within the context of nearly two dozen encampments spreading since the pandemic and Sara Peddle of the Busby Centre warning of rising homelessness amid insufficient shelter spaces; Nuttall has long sought higher-level help since December 10, 2018.
25 Articles
25 Articles
Barrie, Ont. Mayor Declares State of Emergency Due to Homeless Encampments
The mayor of Barrie, Ont., has declared a city-wide state of emergency in response to homeless encampments that have led to a rise in municipal property damage and public safety concerns stemming from the ongoing opioid crisis. Mayor Alex Nuttall made the announcement during a news conference on Sept. 9, saying the city is focused on restoring the safety of its streets by shutting down encampments on public property. “The City of Barrie is immed…
"The city no longer has control of the situation," says Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall, adding that the situation has reached a critical threshold.
Prince George Citizen
Mayor of Barrie, Ont., declares state of emergency over homeless encampments
The mayor of Barrie, Ont., declared a state of emergency over homeless encampments in the city Tuesday, citing concerns about public safety as a justification for the decision.
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