Restoring Safety and Order in the River District
The River District is facing a serious and persistent crisis involving homelessness, addiction, public drug use, disorder and crime. Businesses and residents are suffering, and people are increasingly reluctant to come downtown. I believe addressing these problems must be one of the Mayor’s highest priorities, and I will take responsibility for bringing the people and organizations involved together to find solutions.
Owen Sound has responded to homelessness and addiction with compassion and significant community effort. I applaud the organizations and individuals doing this difficult work, and we must continue to support effective programs. But compassion cannot come at the expense of the safety, livelihoods and quality of life of residents and businesses in the River District.
As Mayor, I will bring together the agencies and organizations addressing homelessness, addiction and social services to ensure they take greater accountability for the broader impact of their programs. Providing a service cannot be the end of that responsibility. Where a program contributes to significant litter, disorder or other identifiable costs in the surrounding neighbourhood, I believe the organization should participate in solving the problem rather than leaving taxpayers and nearby businesses to bear the entire burden.
I will also propose a municipal licensing and regulatory framework for emergency shelters and organizations operating facilities that provide services to people experiencing homelessness and addiction. Operators would be required to meet clear standards for health, safety, staffing, security and neighbourhood management and to renew their licence annually. Standards could include appropriate staff-to-client ratios, security requirements, property maintenance and procedures for responding to problems occurring around their facilities.
People also need to feel safe coming downtown. I support stronger enforcement when criminal activity occurs, including open illegal drug use, harassment, intimidation, theft and property damage. I also support consistent enforcement of legitimate municipal bylaws dealing with littering, nuisance behaviour, panhandling and other conduct that negatively affects public spaces.
Where a particular property is repeatedly associated with serious nuisance conditions or unlawful activity, the City should examine every lawful remedy available to it under provincial legislation and municipal bylaws and take action where the legal threshold for doing so has been met.
My objective is not to abandon compassion. It is to restore balance.
People struggling with homelessness and addiction deserve help. Businesses deserve to operate without persistent disorder outside their doors. Residents deserve the peaceful enjoyment of their neighbourhoods. And everyone should be able to walk through downtown Owen Sound without feeling intimidated or unsafe.
Respect and compassion must work both ways. As Mayor, I will use the lawful tools available to the City, work with service providers, police, Grey County and community organizations, and insist on measurable results in restoring safety and confidence in the River District.