Barrie council passes sweeping motion

Council passed a motion on Wednesday night with calls to action to battle drug use and homelessness issues in the city. (CTV News)

Barrie city council has passed a wide-ranging motion aimed at tackling drug use, homelessness and enforcement issues across the city.

“Mandatory rehabilitation for those who can’t make the decision for themselves, who are in a position where they’ve broken the law,” said Mayor Alex Nuttall, as he brought forward the proposal during Wednesday’s council meeting, calling for a tougher and more focused tactic on several fronts.

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The sweeping motion asks the Barrie Police Service to adopt a zero-tolerance stance on drug use, while also urging the County of Simcoe to transfer both funding and responsibility for homelessness response to the city.

The framework details ideas to hire new municipal staff dedicated to managing homelessness, along with implementing rules that would allow Barrie city bylaw officers to fine property owners who lease space to illegal cannabis and drug dispensaries.

“I’m not opposed to addressing concerns with what we’re seeing with some of the storefronts and knowing that it has been difficult for policing around,” said councillor Ann-Marie Kungl, one of two councillors who voted against the motion.

She added that she acknowledges concerns with “some of the shops that have access to some of the movement of drugs.”

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Nuttall is also hoping to call on both the provincial and federal governments to increase their involvement in addressing homelessness overall and push them to take further action on involuntary addiction treatment.

While the motion covers multiple areas, some councillors and observers viewed the vote as largely symbolic, particularly in its support for mandatory rehabilitation, which falls outside municipal jurisdiction.

“I do and I will continue to struggle with it, when we talk about mandatory rehab,” said Kungl.

Councillor Amy Courser added, “There’s not a single study that I could find online that said that mandatory drug rehabilitation was successful in any way.”

Despite opposition from both councillors, the motion passed.

The City will now send formal letters to Barrie Police Service, the County of Simcoe and both levels of government to outline its position.