More than 60 organizations working across communities in Ontario, including Sudbury’s Réseau ACCESS Network, have formed the Encampment Justice Coalition, and have penned a letter to Ontario Premier Doug Ford asking him to rescind Bill 6.
They say the bill is “based on failed U.S. policy,” punishes encampment residents and deprioritizes housing as a solution “in favour of coercive drug treatment and jail.”
Bill 6, also known as the Safer Municipalities Act, will trigger the Restricting Public Consumption of Illegal Substances Act, 2025 and amend the Trespass to Property Act in respect to sentencing.
Essentially, if the bill is passed, it will give police more power to arrest anyone in possession of an illegal substance in a public place, including a tent in a park, or on public property. Those facing charges can receive fines of up to $10,000 or face up to six months in prison.
The 67-member coalition is calling on the premier to commit to human rights-compliant, evidence-based, and proven solutions — especially safe, affordable housing — to address Ontario’s encampment crisis.
“Ontario’s homelessness crisis has exploded,” the letter begins. “Last year, 80,000 Ontarians experienced homelessness — more than triple the number since 2018, and nearly three times the number of shelter beds in Ontario.”
Between astronomical rents, the loss of affordable rentals, and stagnating housing construction, there is almost nowhere affordable left to live in Ontario.
Add to this situation American tariffs and threats to our sovereignty, which are endangering people’s livelihoods.
“Healthy, accessible, appropriate, secure, and affordable housing is the solution to homelessness. It must be protected and expanded to help Ontarians weather the storm of economic uncertainty and American aggression,” said the letter. “This should be a core part of your tariff response, including a full suite of protections: rent controls, increased income support and housing benefits, significant investments in deeply affordable and supportive housing, and safe, dignified services and emergency shelter options that people would willingly choose.”
The letter states that instead, Bill 6 imposes punitive measures on encampments and their residents. “This Bill targets homeless people believed to be in possession of drugs in public as a means to immediately evict them, arrest them, jail them for up to six months, or fine them $10,000 — or all four,” states the Coalition. “With supervised consumption sites shut down, it leaves nowhere for homeless people to use drugs, and it could make being homeless in itself an aggravating factor in cases of trespass to property.”
“Your government has also threatened the use of the notwithstanding clause to override people’s fundamental rights and freedoms should the courts prevent the clearing of encampments.”
The Coalition's letter states that if passed, Bill 6 will impact thousands of Ontarians who are homeless right now, and will continue to impact a projected 300,000 more in the midst of economic instability.
“Not only is this approach alarming, discriminatory, and a violation of some of the most vulnerable people’s Charter rights, it does not work. It also does not have broad political support,” states the letter, adding the claim that The vast majority of Ontario’s 444 municipalities want more provincial resources and support — not the punishment of homeless people.
“Punishing encampments and their residents, and wrongly suggesting that jails and coercive drug treatment — not housing — are the solution, is a failed policy imported from the United States,” states the Coalition. “It has not made any Americans any less homeless, but it has been shown to cause immense harm, significantly divert police resources, and increase policing costs, all paid for by public tax dollars. It also will increase prison costs: every single homeless person who is incarcerated in Ontario costs the public $133,955 a year.”
Importantly, the Coalition states, there is no archetypal homeless person: they point to seniors, young and single parents, people with disabilities and victims of intimate partner violence as well as Indigenous people, who are disproportionately affected by addiction and homelessness.
As well, there are “people who have been displaced from affordable rentals by development, and people who have lost their jobs — a group that is likely to grow.”
The letter states that with Canada at a precipice, criminal law and policing cannot be invoked to divide Ontarians. “Your government must stand together with all Ontarians, including encampment residents, by rescinding Bill 6, upholding human rights, and committing to the evidence-based solutions — including and especially housing — that can end homelessness,” states the Coalition. They call on Ford to stand with all Ontarians, including encampment residents, by prioritizing care, not punishment, and investing in the solutions to homelessness that are proven to work. The Coalition also invites the Premier and his government to meet and discuss positive solutions with its representatives.
“We look forward to speaking with you further and to your response.”
You can read the full letter with all the signatories here.