Social Justice and Advocacy

Provincial Advocacy: Support Charter Rights and the Right to Housing

Housing costs in Ontario have skyrocketed in the last decade, while wage growth has not kept pace and social assistance rates have stagnated, leaving people on low incomes struggling to keep a roof over their heads. In every community, shelters are full and have to turn people away. It is hardly surprising that the number of people experiencing homelessness in the province has surged, and communities across Ontario – large and small, rural, suburban, and urban – are seeing evidence of visible homelessness in the form of encampments.  The Association of Municipalities of Ontario estimated more than 1400 encampments across the province – ranging in size from one or two to 100 people – in 2023.

Homeless encampments are a symptom of a greater systemic problem: lack of rent-geared-to-income, supportive, and other affordable housing options; rent control loopholes that erode housing affordability; and insufficient shelter space that is accessible to those experiencing homelessness. Most municipalities recognize this.  Alarmingly, however, a small number of mayors in Ontario have urged the provincial government to invoke the notwithstanding clause to enable the “clearing” of homeless encampments, even when people have no other place to go.

Such an action would override the fundamental and Charter-protected rights to life, liberty, and security of the person. And it would not solve homelessness. It would merely further displace and criminalize those who have already been made most vulnerable by our societal failure to address the housing crisis.

What can you do?

• Please consider signing this letter to the Premier and Housing Minister urging them to uphold the Charter and ensure that everyone in Ontario has a safe place to call home.
• If you live in the communities of Barrie, Brampton, Clarington, Midland, Oshawa, or Pickering, consider contacting your mayor to urge them to rescind their call to the premier to invoke the notwithstanding clause. See this letter from a coalition of municipal and regional councillors opposing the use of the clause)
• Rents in Ontario have risen by 54.5% over the past decade, more than three times the rent increase guideline for rent-controlled units. This drives up the cost of living, putting more and more people at risk of losing their housing, while eroding the affordability of housing stock in Ontario. The surge in rental costs is due largely to loopholes in rent control, including an exemption on rent control for new units, vacancy decontrol, and above-guideline increases. 70% of parishes in our Diocese passed a Vestry Motion this past year urging the province to close these rent control loopholes.  Consider joining the Fair Rent Campaign to add your voice for fair and stable rents in Ontario.
• Sadly, many of the people who object to encampments in local parks also object to shelters or supportive housing projects in their neighbourhoods.  If a shelter or housing project is proposed for your neighbourhood, contact your local municipal councillor and find out how you can help support these essential services. You can also contact us for ways to help advocate for your unhoused neighbours.

Federal Advocacy: Call for Migrant Justice

Migrant Justice

The federal government promised regularization – permanent resident status for undocumented people – this past spring.  Since then, the government has distanced itself from that promise, citing a lack of consensus on the issue. Anti-immigration sentiment is rising, with migrants being scapegoated for the housing and affordability crises. Yet migrant and undocumented workers are essential members of our communities, harvesting and often cooking and delivering our food and caring for children, sick and elderly.  Without permanent residency status, they have restricted access to social services and few guarantees of their labour rights, and are thus vulnerable to exploitation and exclusion. Indeed, a recent UN report calls Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Programme “a breeding ground for contemporary forms of slavery.”

“When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself.” – Leviticus 19:33-34

Send a message to federal leaders calling for regularization here.