Clr. Aylwin Talks about the Need for Compassionate Approach towards Homelessness and Poverty

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Clr. Aylwin Talks about the Need for Compassionate Approach towards Homelessness and Poverty

In a packed council chambers, Ward 5 councillor Robert Thomson put a motion that councillor Kennan Aylwin of Ward 2 said seeks to “criminalize people who are experiencing homelessness and poverty.”

Aylwin raised strong objections to paragraphs one to three of Thomson’s motion asking for police involvement in dealing with homeless people, especially those near highway 400 ramps. Thomson said homeless people near highway 400 ramps “can create hazard to drivers” and this issue will get worse as the number of homeless people would increase due to the hotel program for housing homeless people ending.  

In an emotional appeal, Aylwin proposed an amendment to remove paragraphs one to three. He said Thomson’s motion “seeks to criminalize people who are experiencing homelessness and poverty” and “demonstrates a lack of understanding of poverty and homelessness and the causes of crime.” 

“When we don't address the root causes of these issues. It falls back on the police. And it doesn't help anyone involved. It perpetuates the problem. And it harms people,” he said. 

Aylwin also talked from his identity and personal experience. “I've been thinking a lot about what it means to love Barrie,” Aylwin said. “I struggled to love Barrie. And I actually couldn't wait to leave when I was growing up here. And leaving your hometown for maybe a more diverse or accepting community, I think is a queer person's rite of passage.” 

“But I'm here now and Barrie is my home. And I do love the city,” He said, acknowledging this change of heart about Barrie. “But what does that actually mean? And for me, it means I believe in what the city can become. I think we can become a city where everybody can live a life of dignity and safety. But sadly, that's not a reality yet in Barrie.”   

Asking for the council to vote in favor of removing the first three paragraphs, he said Thomson’s motion “also serves to stigmatize people in our community who need support, and it pits us against our neighbors. Criminalizing poverty doesn't solve poverty. And it makes things worse. Trapping people in the cycle of poverty and criminalization that can disproportionately harm black people, indigenous people, and people of color. We can't arrest our way out of these systemic problems.”

However, his appeal fell flat on the overwhelming majority of the council as it was defeated. 

He then proposed to add two amendments to Thomson’s original motion to provide help for people facing homelessness and poverty. 

The first will ensure coordination between the city and provincial government including local MPPs, the Minister of Children Community and Social Services, and the Premier to raise social benefits under Ontario Works (OW) and Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). 

The second amendment will investigate the feasibility of a pilot program to retain outreach workers and/or social workers to assist people experiencing homelessness and living in poverty in the downtown area to connect to services, and to act as a resource for downtown residents and businesses. 

Deputy Mayor Barry Ward said the problems of homelessness and poverty are across Barrie and asked to remove the word downtown to cover the entire city. 

Both of the motions were passed overwhelmingly. 

Councillor Natalie Harris made a final attempt to remove paragraph three from Thomson’s motion. 

Harris, Ward 6 councillor, said paragraph three asking the Ontario Provincial Police’s involvement to deal with homeless people near highway 400 is “a bit too vague and risking possible charges to people that are panhandling.” 

Thomson said the language “has to be vague.” He said he doesn’t want the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) to remove homeless people or file charges against them. He immediately contradicted himself by saying that it is up to the OPP to decide how to deal with the issue as “we're not allowed to direct police force.” 

Harris’ amendment to remove paragraph three was also defeated as only Aylwin supported it. 

Thomson’s original motion with Aylwin’s two amendments was passed unanimously by the council. 

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Video Upload Date: June 2, 2022

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