Northern homelessness services facing deep cutbacks on federal funding
Social services in the north are bracing for deep funding cuts to homelessness services and Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus is calling on the federal government to explain why it is scaling back at a time when the north is facing a social disaster.
Angus spoke in the House of Commons this week asking why the government is telling municipalities to get set for "dramatic cuts" to the ‘Reaching Home’ program while at the same time touting more investments for homelessness in this year’s budget.
One of the homeless shelters funded by the program is the Living Space in Timmins.
According to Angus, Cochrane District social services was told its funding is being cut by 52 per cent; Sault Ste. Marie is expecting a 60 per cent cut and both Sudbury and Nipissing are looking at a 70 per cent reduction.
- Download the CTV News app now
- Get local breaking news alerts
- Daily newsletter with the top local stories emailed to your inbox
"We need everybody calling on the federal government, calling on their employees to clarify what's going on. You're announcing money in the budget, but is that money actually going to come to northern Ontario or are you just going to continue the cuts," Angus said.
"Because the cuts have been laid out, they're drastic. They will be devastating and agencies are having to make choices now based on what they've been told to do."
The homelessness crisis needs more funding and municipalities need clarification, the MP added.
CTV News reached out to the Cochrane District Social Services Administration Board officials and while they confirmed the cutback, they were unavailable for comment.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Blaine Higgs 'furious' over sexual education presentation
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has shared his anger on social media over a presentation in at least four high schools.
Grayson Murray's parents say the two-time PGA Tour winner died of suicide
Grayson Murray's parents said Sunday their 30-year-old son took his own life, just one day after he withdrew from a PGA Tour event.
The dreams of a 60-year-old beauty contestant come to an abrupt end in Argentina
A 60-year-old woman saw her dreams of becoming the oldest Miss Universe contestant in history melt away in a haze of sequins and selfies Saturday at Argentina’s annual beauty pageant.
North Korea informs Japan of a plan to launch military spy satellite
North Korea has told Japan it plans to launch a satellite by early next week, an apparent effort to put its second military spy satellite into orbit.
2 died in plane crash near Squamish, B.C., police confirm
Two people died after a plane went down in a remote area near Squamish, B.C. on Friday, authorities have confirmed.
Driver, 18, gets $3,000 ticket, 32 demerit points after speeding on Laval boulevard
A young driver received a hefty fine from Laval police after they say he was driving nearly 100 km/h over the posted speed limit.
Are you a loud snorer? You could have sleep apnea
You'll have a lot more energy throughout the day if you get a good night's sleep, but not everyone does due to a medical condition.
At least 15 dead after severe weather carves path of ruin across multiple U.S. states in the South
Powerful storms killed at least 15 people and left a wide trail of destruction Sunday across Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas during the latest deadly weather to strike the central U.S.
Some birds may use 'mental time travel,' study finds
Real quick — what did you have for lunch yesterday? Were you with anyone? Where were you? Can you picture the scene? The ability to remember things that happened to you in the past, especially to go back and recall little incidental details, is a hallmark of what psychologists call episodic memory — and new research indicates that it’s an ability humans may share with birds called Eurasian jays.