Ford tours Barrie, Ont. encampments amidst state of emergency

CTV News has learned the Premier was in Barrie with Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall touring encampments that have been plaguing the city.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he might visit the City of Barrie over the weekend, and on Saturday, he did just that.

CTV News has learned the premier was in Barrie with Mayor Alex Nuttall touring encampments that have been plaguing the city.

It has been nearly two weeks since the mayor declared a city-wide state of emergency.

In an interview with CTV News, Nuttall said the meeting was the start of many more while the city grapples with the crisis.

“The premier can see what the issue is right away and he’s been provided all the evidence in relation to the streams and the increase of E. coli readings, after the streams go through an encampment,” said Nuttall. “We were able to really get down to where we believe we need help to get these encampments gone, the funding that’s required to clean up after them, and the funding that’s required for individuals to get help. So it was quite a good meeting today.”

Nuttall said the tour started at City Hall and he took the premier to an encampment site in Milligan’s Pond, one of the largest encampment sites in the city.

Members of Provincial Parliament, Doug Downey and Andrea Khanjin, along with Simcoe County Warden Basil Clarke and Deputy Mayor Robert Thompson were also in attendance for the tour with Ford.

Nuttall said they were able to speak with a resident at the encampment and refer her to housing right away.

“What I heard (from her) was that it’s an unsafe place. The lady that was able to speak to the premier kind of saying, ‘there’s so much in terms of drugs in there that talking to us, she could be beat up or, worse.’”

After the tour, the mayor added the meeting showcased how the state of emergency was used and hopes it can help other municipalities tackle their own homelessness crisis.

“Premier Ford said, ‘let me take this away and think about it and work with our team and get back to you.’ I think he’s not somebody who just makes off the cuff decisions,” said Nuttall. “He’s very thoughtful and he takes time to know that it’s the right decision and I respect that completely.

“His reaction is like, ‘we’re going to figure out how to provide help and support on the ground.’”

Nuttall said this meeting gave him the confidence that the province supports the city and there will be more to come from the province in the future.

“I think today gave me hope. We’re not in this alone, and quite frankly, I already knew that,” stated Nuttall. “When the premier takes the time to come in and see what’s happening on the ground, that’s because he wants to understand it a little bit better before he’s able to maneuver in one way or another. It gives me hope, not that just we’ll be able to do something in Barrie, but that there might be something bigger coming down the road.”

Nuttall also called on the federal government to visit the City of Barrie as it deals with the state of emergency.

“I want the prime minister to put his boots on the ground here as well, so that he can witness and see how difficult, how dangerous, how unsafe, these encampments are,” said Nuttall. “And that’s why we need some pretty serious changes to laws to allow us to help these individuals.”

CTV News’ requests to the federal government on the matter remain unanswered.