Province eyes housing meeting next week amid encampment cash tiff

Editor's note: This article originally appeared in Parliament Today, a Village Media newsletter devoted to covering federal politics on Parliament Hill.

Ontario Housing Minister Paul Calandra clapped back at his federal colleague Sean Fraser for suggesting the province does not have the “political will” to address a rise in encampments in its communities.

Calandra suggested he was caught off guard by Fraser’s Tuesday update, in which Fraser griped that Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan had not “formally responded” to a September federal letter. 

That saw the feds offer provinces and territories $250 million to find solutions for those living in encampments, though Fraser said he’s been stonewalled by the trio for a month.

Now, Ottawa will go around those premiers and work with cities directly. 

While “disappointed” with the non-response, Fraser added Ottawa “will no longer wait for them to muster the political will to act as winter gets closer and lives are put at risk.”

The feds will begin with Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Regina and Saskatoon, and Fraser argued the three provinces had “ample engagement before” he made the cash offer.

But with the weather getting colder, governments must act, he wrote.

That irked Calandra, who said he was “under the impression” that the province and feds were still working on the issue — until Fraser’s statement dropped on Tuesday. 

Calandra added he has a meeting sometime next week with Fraser to discuss the matter, but said it is “about time” the feds match provincial cash to curb homelessness.

On Wednesday evening, Fraser's press secretary responded to Calandra's comments.

"This is about people, not politics," said Sofia Ouslis in an emailed statement. "Unfortunately, despite multiple conversations at a departmental level, there has been no tangible progress made on a deal with Ontario, and waiting for a response at a political level in Ontario is no longer tenable."

"We remain ready to work with any level of government who is interested in solutions. We would be glad to see Ontario join us in matching the funding that we will send to communities," Ouslis continued and touted additional federal spending on homelessness through the Reaching Home program.

"This is not a unique circumstance; Ontario has failed to come to the table to protect the most vulnerable in the province — and we are prepared to address this now."

Meanwhile, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities welcomed Fraser’s decision to work with cities “directly” rather than waiting to get provinces on board, arguing it is proof Ottawa is moving “with urgency” to address the issue.