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Encampment-clearing bill remains on the table, Calandra says, but 'hope is to never use it'

He explained that the government’s strategy was always to lead with funding, not legislation. Municipalities had to agree to use their powers to clear encampments in exchange for money. The bill, which would give the province direct authority to act if cities didn’t, was meant to be a backup.

Published Apr 14, 2025 at 8:12pm

Barbara Patrocinio

Encampment-clearing bill remains on the table, Calandra says, but 'hope is to never use it'

Paul Calandra, Ontario's Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing leaves the Queens Park Legislature in Toronto, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Education Minister Paul Calandra says legislation aimed at forcibly clearing homeless encampments remains an active option if municipalities fail to use newly allocated funding as intended - but the minister added that the government hoped to never have to use the bill.

In a brief interview with QP Briefing this Monday, as MPPs get back in the legislature for a new session, the minister defended the Ford government's approach to encampments, and pushed back on speculation that his shuffle to a new cabinet post was due to a retreat from the bill, which would give municipalities more power to tackle homeless encampments in their communities.

Asked whether it was true that his shuffle was related to his instance on the Safer Municipalities Act, Calandra said no.

Encampment-clearing bill remains on the table, Calandra says, but 'hope is to never use it'

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