Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he plans to visit Barrie and meet with Mayor Alex Nuttall to discuss the city’s growing concerns over homeless encampments, addiction supports, and rising violence. “I’m going to go up and pay him a visit, take a look around and see how we can help him,“ Ford said while in Markdale on Friday afternoon for a separate press conference. “Hopefully I’ll drive up there, maybe this weekend.” Nuttall declared a state of emergency last week, and followed up on Tuesday with a letter to the premier, formally requesting the province step in to address the issue. During a media question and answer period Friday, Ford confirmed he planned to explore ways to provide support. “I know we’ve given them [Barrie] quite a bit of money already for the encampments,” the premier stated. “These encampments aren’t good,” he continued. Ford praised Nuttall, calling him an “absolute champion” for his efforts to tackle the issue. “He’s doing an incredible job for the people of Barrie,” the premier said. “He has the backbone to get in there and move these encampments.” The premier highlighted the unsanitary conditions and safety concerns at the encampments, citing drug use, guns, and improper waste disposal. “It’s disgusting,” Ford said. “It’s not good.” According to the city, Barrie has nearly two dozen encampments, with an estimated 650 people unhoused. “This issue has reached a breaking point,” Nuttall stated. On Wednesday, Barrie’s mayor penned a second letter, this time to Prime Minister Mark Carney, requesting immediate federal action and calling the situation a “national problem.” It’s unclear whether the prime minister will accept the mayor’s request to meet.
