'We can't force them to take the help': Sudbury city councillor on people in tents downtown
A city councillor in Sudbury is voicing his concerns over what he calls misinformation regarding the treatment of the homeless people camped out at a downtown park.
People currently living in Memorial Park in downtown Sudbury are refusing to relocate.
City Councillor Bill Leduc said even though there are plenty of services available, some people don’t want the help.
"This is a group here that refuses to leave. They want no help from the city whatsoever and they have identified that. They want to be left alone. They want to be on their own," Leduc said. "There are individuals out there that do want the help and I am 100 per cent helping those who want the help. Unfortunately, if a person doesn’t want the help, we can’t force them to take the help."
He said there are roughly 300 people who are currently experiencing homelessness in the city and that the mayor and city council have been working hard to fill in the gaps for these individuals.
"We’ve spent about $4.5 million so far, provincially and federally, along with municipal money, on making sure our most vulnerable population is looked after," Leduc said. "We just don’t have the manpower to have 300 employees out addressing everybody. And that’s why some of these people are falling through the cracks. It’s unfortunate."
Although no one who is currently living in Memorial Park would speak with CTV News, a local organization that works with them spoke on their behalf.
"They are very hurt and angry, and I think it becomes very traumatizing. And it’s the trauma over and over and not really knowing what to do or where to go. Shelters are at capacity. The major players in mental health and illness are at capacity," said Jehnna Morin, the executive director of Sudbury Centre for Transitional Care.
Leduc said the city has $7.4 million coming in from the federal government to deal with the homelessness issue and the city council will use that money for transitional housing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.