There’s a saying among prisoners: if you don’t have a disability going into prison, you’re probably leaving with one. Disability justice and prisoner justice advocates often call prisons the new asylums. Canada has long history of institutionalizing disabled people in asylums, institutions for the […]
Tag: Ontario
How more homeless encampments in Ontario signal a housing crisis out of control – Global News [2023-09-09]
Homeless encampments have been multiplying across Ontario since the pandemic, but experts say this visible symptom of the national housing crisis has been a long time coming. With limited shelter space, a lack of social housing, increasing cost of home ownership and ballooning rents, […]
‘Hate’ campaign seemingly targets youngest and most impressionable in our community – CTV News [2023-09-07]
Ian MacLean says his wife was taking a pleasant morning walk with their dog, Charley, when she was confronted with troubling messages in front of Trafalgar Public School on Wednesday morning; the first day of school. “She came across some trans hate messages both […]
Just four organizations bid to operate London’s first homeless hubs – CTV News [2023-09-06]
Council’s options may be limited when they choose locations and lead agencies to operate the first low-barrier service hubs for Londoners experiencing homelessness. According to a publicly available list posted on city hall’s Bids and Tenders website, nine organizations participated in a Request for […]
Bruce County mayor resigns after accusing First Nation in Ontario of being ‘poor and unclean’ in recording – CBC News [2023-08-29]
The mayor of South Bruce Peninsula has resigned after he was caught on tape making racist comments about a nearby First Nation community, the Ontario town announced in a statement Tuesday. Garry Michi was recorded in an audio clip posted Friday by an anonymous […]
‘The minister was aware of what we are doing’: St. Thomas’ affordable housing plans making noise across Ontario – CTV News [2023-08-28]
St. Thomas, Ont. is quickly making a name for itself when it comes to provincial leaders. “That really showed this year at the AMO (Association of Municipalities of Ontario) conference,” said Joe Preston, St. Thomas’ mayor. “Almost every minister we asked for a deputation […]
Caught on tape: Indigenous groups demand mayor’s resignation following ‘racist’ commentary – CTV News [2023-08-28]
“I can understand to be poor, but you can be poor and clean,” is what South Bruce Peninsula Mayor Garry Michi was recorded as saying in an audio clip released to the public via SoundCloud last week. In the audio recording, uploaded to SoundCloud […]
‘Almost died a few times’: Northern Ontario city of Sudbury grapples with opioids – Global News [2023-08-25]
Crystal Plume sits in the shade of a tree near a busy intersection in downtown Sudbury and carefully injects fentanyl into a vein on the back of her hand before licking the speck of blood left behind. The 36-year-old who regularly panhandles in the […]
Ontario cities watching as London rolls out first-of-its-kind homeless response – CBC News [2023-08-23]
Municipal leaders dedicated the final day of the Association of Ontario Municipalities (AMO) conference to discuss collaborative solutions to homelessness as a housing crisis continues across the province. AMO looked to its host London, along with Kingston — two cities that are taking the […]
Fail fast— make corrections— move forward: Mayor Morgan’s unvarnished take on rollout of homelessness strategy – CTV News [2023-08-23]
Some frank talk by London Mayor Josh Morgan may be aimed at managing community expectations for London’s upcoming Whole of Community Response to Homelessness ahead of a series of public meetings. On Wednesday, Morgan co-hosted a session in front of the Association of Municipalities […]
His brother died in an Ontario jail. Advocates say calls for reform to prevent such deaths are being ignored – CBC News [2023-08-23]
In May this year, Nathan Gray noticed his phone buzzing. His cousin was trying to reach him. When he picked up the FaceTime call, he saw the serious look on his cousin’s face and knew something was wrong. “I just had this feeling,” he […]
‘Sorry, pardon me’: Is London, Ont. really that polite? – CTV News [2023-08-21]
London may be known for green trees and, lately, seemingly endless road construction, but now it has another claim to fame. A new nationwide survey has found Londoners are among the most polite in the nation, with the Forest City just squeaking into the […]
Virtual addictions program in Thamesville shuts down due to funding issues – CBC News [2023-08-20]
A Thamesville, Ont., organization says it’s being forced to shut down its virtual recovery program because its been unable to secure sustainable funding. Westover Treatment Centre, running in Chatham-Kent since 1986, stopped the program this month, and has had to lay off highly-skilled addictions […]
Local hospital staff frequently deal with violent, aggressive patients, new numbers show – CBC News [2023-08-08]
She’s only been on the job for two years, but London registered nurse Lannie Seddon has already been punched in the head by a patient. She’s one of many hospital workers who face violence and aggression at work on a regular basis — something […]
Ontario First Nation chief calls for more support amid opioid emergency – CTV News [2023-08-04]
One First Nation community in Ontario has officially declared a state of emergency due to an opioid crisis. “In the last five years we’ve had over 45 deaths, drug-related to the opioid crisis,” Chief Veronica Smith, of the Chippewas of Nawash First Nation in […]
Hamilton lawyers struggle to get same-day access to clients in jail – CBC News [2023-08-01]
Hamilton lawyers say they’re struggling to get timely access to clients who are imprisoned in the Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre. “It’s definitely not in the best interest of the inmates and the lawyers,” Asgar Manek, a local lawyer, told CBC Hamilton. “I have to stand […]
Sarnia, Ont. police delete tweet about woman’s shoplifting arrest following backlash – CTV News [2023-07-30]
Sarnia police have removed a Twitter post about a woman who was arrested for allegedly shoplifting food and cleaning supplies, acknowledging that it was “not in keeping” with their “internal and community expectations.” The tweet, which included a photo of the groceries in question, […]
Build and fund a drug rehab centre in London, mayor tells premier – CBC News [2023-07-25]
London should be the first city in Ontario to get any newly-built publicly-funded addiction rehab facilities, Mayor Josh Morgan says. “Treatment is health care, and so it’s not something the city can do. This is a fully provincial responsibility and only the province can […]
Council endorses homeless hub plan, despite concerns about cost and capacity – CBC News [2023-07-24]
The City of London has moved a step closer to approving a multi-million dollar plan to open a series of neighbourhood service hubs intended to provide life-saving supports and pathways to housing for those suffering through an increasingly deadly homelessness crisis. The plan was […]
Kids who go hungry more likely to access care for mental health, substance use: Ontario study – CBC News [2023-07-24]
Toronto resident Rhonda Miller knows how difficult it can be to afford the basic necessities. The 52-year-old lives in an apartment with her daughter and two granddaughters, who are nine and six. Rising rent and food prices mean Miller has to sometimes choose between […]
Poilievre calls Niagara Falls home ‘tiny little shack,’ apologizes to tenant – CTV News [2023-07-21]
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he has apologized to a woman in Niagara Falls, Ont. for calling her home a “tiny little shack” in an attempt to illustrate high housing costs in the area. “Housing costs under (Prime Minister Justin) Trudeau have doubled, and […]
Brant County man swimming across Lake Ontario to raise awareness for mental health – CBC News [2023-07-20]
As he swims across Lake Ontario, swinging one arm over the other for 51 kilometres straight, Jason Kloss may seem alone — but he won’t be. His grandfather, Dick Kloss, and friend, Mike Kuipers, both of whom died during the pandemic, will be in […]
‘This is an investment’: City staff justify London, Ont. homeless hubs plan – Global News [2023-07-19]
City councillors will debate the much-talked-about hub implementation plan to address London’s growing homelessness crisis in a special committee meeting next week. A 46-page report details the steps taken so far, including community engagement, and what immediate steps are needed next, including a request […]
St. Thomas police dismantle homeless camp, frustrating some outreach workers – CBC News [2023-07-19]
St. Thomas has dismantled a well-established encampment where people had set up tents and built make-shift shelters, angering outreach workers who say the people there have nowhere else to go. “What typically happens is they have to see if there’s room in the shelter […]
Who was behind London’s big banana giveaway? Now we know. – CBC News [2023-07-19]
Months after spreading potassium and positivity across London, the man who gave out thousands of free bananas and sparked speculation from hundreds of Londoners has agreed to share his motivations. Tyler Lockhart, 21, says his generosity wasn’t inspired by a thirst for fame or […]
