Safer Municipalities Act
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| Keeping Students in Class Act | |
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| Citation | S.O. 2025, c. 5 |
| Assented to | June 5, 2025 |
| Legislative history | |
| Introduced by | Rob Flack MPP, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing |
| First reading | April 30, 2025 |
| Second reading | June 2, 2025 |
| Third reading | June 3, 2025 |
| Status: Current legislation | |
The Safer Municipalities Act, 2025 (French: Loi de 2025 pour des municipalités plus sûres) is an act of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario with the goal of clearing homeless encampments from public spaces.[1]
Background
[edit]In October 2024, 12 mayors wrote to Premier Doug Ford, requesting more powers to clear homeless encampments.[2]
The legislation was introduced but failed to pass due to the 2025 Ontario provincial election.[3]
Provisions
[edit]The act gives police more powers to clear homeless encampments on public property.[4]
The act uses the notwithstanding clause to override the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.[5]
Reception
[edit]The Association of Municipalities of Ontario described the legislation as not providing longer-term, permanent solutions for homelessness.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Raveendran, Rochelle (8 June 2025). "Ontario anti-encampment law punishes the homeless, avoids long-term solutions: critics". CBC News. Archived from the original on 9 June 2025. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
- ^ Draaisma, Muriel (1 November 2024) [2024-10-31]. "Ontario mayors ask Ford to use notwithstanding clause to clear homeless encampments". CBC News. Archived from the original on 29 May 2025. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
- ^ Callan, Isaac; D'Mello, Colin (28 January 2025). "Election call set to kill Ford government bills, including on encampments, health care". Global News. Archived from the original on 1 February 2025. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
- ^ Chorostil, Erika (4 July 2025). "'You definitely can't arrest your way out of this': northeastern Ontario police not rushing to use new powers". CBC News. Archived from the original on 4 July 2025. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
- ^ Lorteau, Steve; Chan, Oliver (27 November 2024). "Using the notwithstanding clause to evict the homeless shows the limits of municipal politics". The Conversation. Archived from the original on 12 February 2025. Retrieved 15 July 2025.