Northern Ontario homelessness crisis spirals under Ford Conservatives

SUDBURY – Ontario NDP MPP Jamie West (Sudbury) has issued the following statement after harrowing reports of worsening homelessness in Northern Ontario were released:

“What we are seeing in Sudbury and across Northern Ontario is the direct result of a housing crisis that has been allowed to spiral out of control by Doug Ford’s Conservative government.

“Communities here are being pushed past their limits, and the consequences are tragic. Just this week, in Sudbury, we learned that a woman lost her life in a tent encampment fire. We send our most heartfelt condolences to her loved ones.

“Let's be clear: this is a failure of the Ford government. Northern communities need urgent provincial investment in supportive housing, rent-geared-to-income homes, and real prevention measures. Doug Ford knows this fully well, but ignores the recommendations of his own government’s Housing Affordability Task Force, making a conscious decision not to follow through.

“Clearing encampments and ignoring warnings from experts won’t save lives. Doing so only shuffles people around and pushes them further into desperation. The Ford government must act now, and bring this crisis to an end.”