Ontario NDP leader calls for more affordable housing and addiction support from Ford government

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The Ford government has fallen short on building affordable housing and funding mental health and addiction programs, the Ontario NDP leader said during a visit to Windsor this week.

Speaking to the media outside Marlborough Public School in the city’s west end on Thursday, Marit Stiles warned against involuntary treatment, an idea publicly supported in a Facebook post by the mayor of Windsor last week Instead, urged the province to fund evidence-based services for those experiencing mental health or addiction crises.

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“It’s destroying our communities,” Stiles said. “There’s no doubt about it, not just in Windsor, but across Ontario. I see it every day, but especially here.

“We know that the evidence shows that when we put money into mental health and addiction services and connect with people where they are, we have the most successful outcomes,” he said.

“But what I’m seeing at the moment is a lot of talk from this government, a lot of change, but not really a lot of resources, and nothing based on the evidence of what actually works.”

MPP Andrew Dowie (PC – Windsor-Tecumseh) told the Star that, contrary to what Stiles argues, the Ford administration has implemented several programs that help provide affordable housing.

In a social media post on Facebook about two weeks ago, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens expressed his support for Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown to consider involuntary treatment to address balloon addiction and the city’s mental health crisis.

This follows British Columbia Premier David Eby moving forward with plans to open regional facilities that will provide involuntary care under the Mental Health Act.

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“Before this government or any other government really looks at involuntary treatment,” MP Lisa Gretzky (NDP – Windsor West) told reporters Thursday, “what needs to happen is a transformation of the mental health and addiction system.”

Gretzky called the lack of funding, along with insufficient collaboration with front-line workers and people with lived experience, an “abject failure” on the part of the Ford government.

In August, the province unveiled a new plan to help municipalities deal with a worsening addiction crisis.

The Ford government has earmarked $378 million for 19 new Homeless and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) centers. If the city’s application is successful, the Windsor center will offer primary care, mental health services, addiction support, social services, transitional beds, supportive housing and other services. A day after the announcement, SafePoint’s pending application for provincial approval was denied.

At Thursday’s media event, Stiles also expressed deep concern about Ontario’s affordable housing supply, criticizing the Ford government for not adequately addressing the shortage.

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“We have to start addressing this crisis, or more people will end up homeless and without hope,” Stiles said.

“To do that, we need the government to get back into the business of building truly affordable, not-for-profit homes. That means things like income-adjusted rent and co-op housing.”

In response to criticism, Dowie told the Star Thursday afternoon that the Ontario government has launched several programs, including the Building Faster Fund, to increase housing supply.

Earlier this month, after exceeding its housing goals for the year, Windsor pocketed millions in provincial grants to speed up development. The city will receive $3.48 million from the Ontario Building Faster Fund.

“At the moment, especially young people, they can’t find a place in the market for their needs, because they just don’t have enough capital built up,” Dowie said.

“They don’t have enough accumulated investments and they are working with one arm tied behind their back.”

While the programs don’t have specific requirements for income-oriented rental, Dowie said increasing the supply of housing will help lower market prices for renters and buyers.

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“It means you can be more discerning as a buyer and it gives you options to have your dream home,” he said.

The City of Tecumseh will also receive a $15.1 million grant from the Ontario Housing Enabling Systems Fund to unlock undeveloped land that could support more than 4,000 new homes.

Gretzky, however, said the programs fall short.

He urged Ford’s conservatives to adopt a model similar to the post-World War II era, when the federal government helped fund wartime homes for returning soldiers.

“On the question of whether or not the prime minister is doing enough to make life affordable for people, the government is actually going in the complete opposite direction,” Gretzky said.

“Just in our community, we’re seeing an increase in homelessness. We’re seeing an increase in people who rely on food banks, people who have two, sometimes three jobs, accessing food banks “.

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