Ontario Proposes Tougher Penalties and Expanded Housing Funds to Address Homeless Encampments

The legislation includes stricter trespass laws, a public drug use ban, and $75.5 million in new funding for shelters and affordable housing.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced legislation to increase penalties for trespassing and public drug use, aiming to clear homeless encampments from public spaces.
The proposed laws include fines of up to $10,000 or six months in jail for repeat trespassers and public drug use violations, with courts considering rehabilitation as an alternative for minor drug offenses.
An additional $75.5 million in funding has been pledged, including $50 million for affordable housing, $20 million for shelter expansion, and $5.5 million to free up emergency shelter space.
The legislation has drawn criticism for potentially criminalizing homelessness without providing sufficient long-term housing solutions, as shelters across the province remain full.
Ford stated he is prepared to use the notwithstanding clause if courts block the measures but emphasized his confidence in the legislation's alignment with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.