The city of Barrie, Ontario, has declared a state of emergency as growing homeless encampments and rising crime spark fears about community safety. Mayor Alex Nuttall announced the decision, saying the city could no longer ignore the problem and that immediate action was needed to restore order. The move has divided opinions, with city leaders pushing for stricter measures while non-profits argue housing shortages are the root cause.
Mayor Nuttall said the declaration was essential to “reclaim streets, parks, squares, and the feeling of safety.” He explained that residents had grown frustrated by the growth of tent communities across the city.
“Encampments are not acceptable in the City of Barrie,” Nuttall said. “People living in tents must turn to resources available. If you refuse that help, you cannot stay in these encampments.”
The mayor linked the growing encampments with rising crime, claiming that recent incidents show the city must take firmer steps.
Declaring a state of emergency allows Barrie to use special powers under Ontario’s emergency law. These powers include:
Creating a task force to manage the encampment crisis.
Hiring consultants and contractors to support cleanup efforts.
Enforcing strict rules more aggressively.
The city’s first target will be the large encampment outside the local courthouse, which Nuttall said would be dismantled soon.
The mayor stressed that people experiencing homelessness will be offered help, including housing supports and access to services. But he was also clear: tents will be removed.
“For those who want help, we’ll find the supports. For those who don’t and want to live in addictions, tents will be removed,” he said.
The city is balancing two goals — protecting residents and ensuring people without homes still have somewhere to turn.
In June, Ontario passed the Safer Municipalities Act, which gave cities stronger powers to deal with encampments. The law allows police to:
Arrest or fine people for trespassing repeatedly.
Remove tents from public spaces.
Order people using illegal substances in public to leave.
This came after a past court ruling in Kitchener said removing encampments without enough shelter space violated Charter rights. The law now aims to give municipalities legal authority, though critics worry it could clash with human rights again.
The city has connected encampments with crime, pointing to a recent double homicide linked to one of the tent sites. Nuttall said both police and residents have noticed crime increasing near encampments.
“If you see growth in encampments and then a rise in crime around them, it’s clear they are linked,” the mayor said.
Not everyone agrees with the mayor. Sara Peddle, head of the David Busby Centre, said homelessness should not automatically be linked to crime.
“Most people experiencing homelessness are law-abiding,” she said. “Lawlessness should be treated as a separate issue.”
She added that encampments exist because there simply isn’t enough housing. Simcoe County currently has around 2,000 people experiencing homelessness, yet nowhere near enough units to house them all.
The shortage of affordable housing is a major obstacle. Peddle said that despite efforts by shelters and non-profits, the system is “not set up for success” because supply is far below demand.
County officials echoed this, with Warden Basil Clarke promising to use provincial funding for new housing projects. He said Barrie’s emergency declaration highlights a shared goal: ensuring everyone who wants housing can get it.
The Ontario government said it will continue working with Barrie and other municipalities to protect public spaces while also investing in housing. Alexandra Sanita, spokesperson for the housing minister, said the province is making “record investments” in supportive housing while backing cities with tools to keep communities safe.
Mayor Nuttall insists the emergency is about restoring order. But advocates argue that focusing only on dismantling tents without enough housing may worsen the problem.
The challenge for Barrie lies in striking a balance: addressing safety concerns raised by residents while ensuring vulnerable people receive real solutions.
Barrie’s emergency declaration has placed the city at the centre of Ontario’s homelessness debate. While city leaders promise to dismantle encampments and restore safety, non-profits warn that without enough housing, the crisis will continue. The coming weeks will test how far the city is willing to go and whether solutions can be found that balance both safety and compassion.
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