On August 9, the Town removed a tent that had been erected in Victoria Park but did not immediately act on several tents on the West Beach. Councillors received multiple complaints about these and in Today’s Northumberland, Pete Fisher reported the details on one couple living there (see Resources). However, the Town has now reported that “Officers found that the encampment is in violation of the current Parks By-law, Nuisance By-law and Trespass to Property Act.” But before acting, Council met on Friday in a special closed Session emergency meeting to consider legal advice – in particular to consider a recent ruling of the Ontario Superior Court in the Waterloo decision which dictates that “unless and until encampment residents are provided with truly accessible accommodation, eviction should not take place”.
So the tents are still there.
On Saturday 12 August at about 2:15 pm, the Town announced this information and further:
As per the Town of Cobourg’s revised Encampment Response Plan [Download from Town’s web site – see link in Resources], approved by Council in July 2022, Municipal Law Enforcement staff will continue to work closely with the residents of the encampment, connecting them with community-based supports provided by the County of Northumberland. Further, staff are seeking legal council on how current municipal by-laws can be enforced and will bring an open report to Council on the current situation and advice received at a later date.
Should residents have any concerns regarding the violation of municipal by-laws, they are advised to contact the Municipal Law Enforcement department at 905-372-8380.
Since the County is responsible for this issue, my guess is that the County will now have to provide “truly accessible accommodation” to the people in the Tents. The Town has not specified exactly what this means and the County has not commented (yet). Stay tuned.
Resources
- Report by Today’s Northumberland on removal of Tent from Victoria Park – 9 August 2023
- Report by Pete Fisher in Today’s Northumberland about Virginia and Chris living in a tent on the West Beach – 11 August 2023
- Cobourg’s Encampment Response Plan – (from Town’s Web site) – July 2022
- Full News Announcement by Town – 12 August 2023
Print Article:
David Piccini did clearly say that local bylaws MUST be enforced, which, with this illegal encampment on west beach, is clearly not being done. We have a weak council, weak police force and weak bylaw all not doing their jobs. Taxpaying residents have said they no longer feel safe at West Beach yet the encampment continues. There is a kids day camp there, seniors residence and taxpaying waterfront residents all being impacted by a bunch of unemployed bums. David Piccini also pointed out free beds in transition house and that local residents must feel safe. That is not all blah, blah to me. He is telling the municipal government and public servants to do their jobs. Is there a lawyer in this group? I would be very interested in a lawsuit against the town of Cobourg. Or perhaps the local lawyers providing advice to the illegal campers could direct us to free legal advice?!!!!!! In all seriousness though is there a lawyer in this group?
Are we entitled to review the Town of Cobourg lawyers’ opinion to the closed meeting, where Council was advised that enforcement of existing by-laws would breach the squatters’ Charter Rights and Freedoms?
Disclose it now
My wife and I have suspended our morning walk out the west pier because of this encampment. I had been stubborn about continuing until I heard the news about there being gunshots. We are now walking elsewhere so these non-taxpaying drug addicts can camp for free on prime waterfront real-estate. Not only that, they’re being provided porta-potties and a garbage bin on taxpayer dime. We are essentially supporting an exclusive private beach drug enclave on our waterfront at the expense of town residents and free for use by its users.
I gotta imagine it’s nice walking up in the morning to the sounds of the nearby waves, opening up your tent to see the sun shining on the water, the best part though, it’s all for FREE! No job, no responsibilities, live for free in paradise.
Sadly you’re wise to avoid the area.There are cars dropping people with gear off throughout the day at the entrance to West Beach so I imagine the numbers of people camping there are increasing. I saw two men pushing a handcart/dolly loaded with building materials down Hibernia so they seem to be readying for winter. Lots of open fires.
Pete Fisher interview with David Piccini.
https://youtu.be/EDtsMQHeoLY?feature=shared
sorry Mr Piccini…empty words…blah blah blah….your governments agenda to build million dollar housing in the Burbs is not going to solve the opioid crises on our shores!!
Yes disgusted. The 1.5 million homes that the Conservatives intend to build are for immigrants- as was stated last week by his leader…
Guess you haven’t heard there is a housing crisis. The homes are meant for anyone. I didn’t see that in disgusted answer so if you don’t like the Conservatives marya just keep voting for and trying to promote the party/parties that have created this mess we are all living with.
It has been loudly heard and vividly seen. There is a housing crisis due to a significant lack of skilled labourers across Canada and with at least 20,000 unfilled positions in Ontario. Ironically, there is a need to bring in skilled immigrants to build homes for immigrants and for people who can afford to pay for them, which means that the homes are not meant for anyone. As for voting, if we do, we do not vote for any of the your mentioned Parties.
I think you drank the koolaid marya. With massive legal and illegal immigration under the Federal Liberals Canada’s population has grown in leaps and bound outpacing the housing market. Together with the Liberal policies of overlooking foreign off shore investment which is also driving up prices.
Anyway we are off topic – the topic for today mayya is the encampment of drug addicts at the beach and the likelihood of more to come. People that makes drugs their priority. Not working, not contributing and feeling they have no responsibility. It is all someone else’s fault.
Cobourg’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/TownofCobourg/) currently has some rather negative comments. I wonder how long they will be allowed to stay.
The Silence from our Leaders is unbearable. I am not on Facebook…but I can view posts there. I think the Town of Cobourg Facebook site could use some of these voices and concerns. Most of the comments appear opposite, and in support of the Encampment.
https://www.facebook.com/TownofCobourg/
In reading the comments mostly I read ones that were against the encampment. All in all there weren’t many comments at all.
There is over 100 comments Dave. You may be looking at a different article/post.
Thanks Newbie. I also am not a Facebook user but accessed what I could by clicking when it said replies which showed the replies. I did see the same people who were commenting in favour commenting again and again and again. There were many stating they did not want the encampment but usually made but 1 comment. Probably was able to access about 20 comments.
Many of the names in favour were quite familiar known for their leftist views.
Won’t let me edit so here is another comment.
Found another one Newbie – it is comprised of comments from Cobourg residents against. Also on inquiry of someone seeking such it was posted in Bowmanville that there is a safe encampment in Cobourg to anyone seeking such accommodations. Wonder where else this is being posted? There may be a whole city down there soon! We may be up to our armpits soon,
Hey there Dave—yes I could see there was 106 comments. You can “sort” them, but unless you are a facebook user, I think you can only see so much. Yes, I heard there is a Bowmanville Facebook site where people are discussing coming to Cobourg Encampment. If you are honest and express your fear and anger at the lack of communication and zero Action…things are downplayed or you are fear mongering…but it is all true, so sadly true…this has all been unfolding before our eyes since winter or before.
Which one please, I don’t see them
I post on this subject as I don’t like seeing our beautiful Town gift wrapped for the druggies and for their suppliers. And unfortunately we also see the homeless folks who may want to be helped but there is no accommodation made available for them.
This afternoon I walked the length of King Street and was shocked at the increase in the homeless zombies sitting on the benches in front of stores and the number of young healthy looking back packers proudly walking the street or just hanging out smoking God knows what. They know they own King Street and our Town. The law is on their side.
We need councilors with guts, not social workers who put the druggies demands ahead of the taxpayers’ best interests. Maybe we should be like the Texas border towns and just fill buses full of our druggies and send them to Ottawa. I understand Justin has a few unused bedrooms now. That would be all in accordance with Bill C5.
It seems Leadership and the Police Services are going to continue to cater to the drug situation and the growing encampment etc.
The strong comments on this blog indicate taxpayers are unhappy with what is going on, but no reaction from Leadership. The Mayor and DM’s latest posts are all about the ribfest and music this weekend. They are not reading the room.
Perhaps a way to get their attention is to withhold the final tax payments due at the end of this month. Put them in a cashflow crunch. Will they have funds to pay the huge number of staff or cover the portion of the Police Services budget – $6 million plus of the total Cobourg operating budget. Look at the Sunshine List for Northumberland and see the number of salaries being paid that are over $100k and close to $200k.
Now the Town will say sorry. If payments are late then penalties apply. But maybe the penalties are worth it to get Leaderships and the Police Chief’s attention.
Enough is Enough.
You say Enough is Enough
Residents feel abandoned by their council, by their police and by the courts
Will homeowners vote with their feet and say We re moving to any where but Cobourg before their homes start losing value, before they become a victim of a property crime or even worse a crime of violence?
Or maybe its just a move over the Cobourg border to an area policed by the OPP for safety and security.
Amazon can meet a lot of shopping needs, saving on travel into Cobourg.
Funny you should say this Old Sailor, I was looking at Pete Fisher’s videos and I thought many residents of the homeless encampment look like a bunch of unemployed beach bums. What a dream come true, free camping on Lake Ontario, washrooms, garbage bins and first responder services at their beck and call. What a joke CPS and town council are to have so easily rolled over on this.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-drug-overdoses-children-bc/
Fatal overdoses from opioids and other illicit drugs are now the leading cause of death for youth aged 10 to 18 in British Columbia, a development that underscores the urgency of the province’s toxic drug crisis.
Wally, one way of interpreting this information is there has been great success at reducing the previous leading causes of death. I don’t think that is the case and the problem is nation wide.
Kids overdosing a public health emergency, Canadian pediatricians say | CTV News
Could legalizing cannabis have been misinterpreted by teens, who do not always make great decisions, to think all drugs are not really that bad?
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-review-drug-consumption-toronto-fatal-shooting-1.6938676
Ontario’s health ministry says it has launched a “critical incident review” of consumption and treatment services sites in the province following a daytime shooting that killed mother of two near a Toronto site in July.
Basically Council Voted to do this so I guess its Council thats accountable
An Mervin Hit the Nail on the Head . His interpretation of the present social situation
Cobourg finds it self in . Social Support , Social Housing all go hand in hand with
Rules of Social Living . And I would like to add that Bad behaviour and Illegal acts
can not be excused on the reasoning of Drug Addiction s.
Can people please stop conflating the affordable housing crisis with drug addicted people who have been removed from facilities for not being able to abide by rules. Yes, we need affordable housing. No, these people shouldn’t have access to it until they have become rehabilitated. Housing for the poorly behaved does exist… it just needs to be enforced. Housing for those down on their luck needs improving but that’s not the same topic
Exactly!!!!!! There are homeless seniors in this community who need help! Single mothers as well as people who are disabled. The “advocates” seem hell bent on only helping the drug addicted criminals. In fact, Greenwood coalition is responsible for this. If you watch Pete Fishers video they state that Greenwood has been helping them set up and get all of their supplies, and they won’t move until the get housing they deem suitable (apparently Transition house is not suitable). Also, the woman in the video (Virginia) who was enabled by Greenwood to start this whole thing seems like a very smart, capable, well spoken woman. Why is this the solution? Shouldn’t the advocates be helping her get the treatment she needs so she can find a job and have a meaningful life? She seems more than capable of this. I’m just so confused why allowing criminals to camp on the beach while intimidating children and seniors is a suitable solution? I actually wouldn’t have an issue with this being the solution to the housing crisis if the people camped were not committing crimes. I was there last night after the shooting and it was scary. All kinds of people doing illicit drugs in front of and on the boardwalk. Definitely won’t be taking my kids there anymore.
Could someone please tell me whether any effort is made to find out where all the homeless/unhoused/and possibly addicted people are from? I was told by a very reliable source that not long ago – a year or so – Cobourg’s unhoused numbered less than twenty. However, that number has apparently skyrocketed. What is the attraction of Cobourg for them? Is it because we do make an effort to ease their lot where other communities do not?
I’m quite curious what happened to and who is accountable for the Revised Encampment Response Plan and what actions have occur in the last 15 days? What is the update from the Homelessness Coordinated Response Team (HCRT) that was to coordinate a systemic multi-agency response to those sleeping rough in the Town of Cobourg to facilitate person-centered engagement opportunities and individualized connections to community-based supports, including dignified housing/shelter options – who in Victoria Hall is accountable for the actions of this Team and for the follow-up? What actions came from Northumberland County Community Social Services Standing Committee to address homelessness? What follow-up has been done in the last 5 days and who in Victoria Hall is accountable?
Last year, DM Beatty moved (Burchat seconded) that Council call on Northumberland County Council, staff, and its service providers to work with the Town of Cobourg to establish an immediate solution to increasing the supply of indoor accommodation and providing street outreach support through the implementation of an Encampment Response Plan. Can we get a status update on the solutions that were implemented at that time and who in Victoria Hall is accountable for continuing to drive action in Cobourg? What actions have been taken place in the month of August?
In 2022, Council directed staff to engage with Infrastructure Ontario and MPP David Piccini and Northumberland County to repurpose, refurbish or rebuild a small portion of the former Brookside property to explore immediate housing options in response to the local housing crisis. Who lead these discusses, was a public report issued regarding these discussions and what was the outcome? Has there been any follow-up in 2023 or was follow-up necessary?
We had GUN FIRE within a week of a drug riddled, homelessness encampment being establish on a public beach. A beach our child play or played on!
Without accountability there will be no action.
Who is being held accountable for the action that follows?
Council continues to be gaslit then ghosts all concerned citizens.
Unbelievable, care to translate your post into English?
I do not want to be speak for Unbelievable but I can guess as to what is meant. It is easy enough to get a definition of gaslit, or gaslighting. My guess is Unbelievable is implying council is being gaslit by special interest groups. Ghosting means there is no response which is a common concern in these comments. Assuming all council members are not complete idiots, they are very much aware of how important an issue this is. My speculation is they agreed in their closed door meeting to not comment individually. This way they can appear to be united in the way the handle the situation. I can’t imagine what they are currently thinking. Regardless of how this ‘ends’ there will be some group upset. At the moment many taxpayers are upset at the lack of response. Maybe council is working on a plan to move the encampment out. But to where and who will drive the school bus? Bus drivers are not easy to find. Maybe they know the encampment will move in a few months. Those tents will not stand up to ice from the lake. Tax payers are watching. Council, it is time to lets us know what your plan is.
They think it’s drug related, no surprise. They won’t find them unless they got a plate no.
One person said the suspects were three black men who made their getaway in a car after at least one shot was fired.
There were no injuries from the shooting.
More than one person at the encampment told Today’s Northumberland the incident was believed to be drug related.
https://twitter.com/NT_pfisher/status/1692027734132740170?t=-xaWM9jRuM05Zz9dd1AlrA&s=19
In the context of the discussion about the encampment which always devolves into a rabbit hole about addicts the question should be why all the anger against the behaviour of the inhabitants of the camp and their alleged addiction problems?
Focus your anger towards the lack of progress in hunting down the second tier suppliers and the “Mr Bigs” in this scenario. Demand action on this!
will one of the “thumbs – down” people tell me why they voted that way, if you did can I assume that you don’t agree that we should be chasing “Mr Big”? That means you are in favour of allowing upper level trafficking to take place!
There were two parts to your post. Perhaps people object to “why all the anger against the behaviour of the inhabitants of the camp and their alleged addiction problems?” I suspect that almost everyone other than customers (addicts) agree that we should be chasing “Mr Big”,
Saw disheartening imagines of what is transpiring in San Francisco with there drug/ tent communities.
Our situation not as big but just as bad.
I guess we have our own “Sand” Francisco.
In San Francisco citizens are encouraged to download an app to report where human feces is found in public places and streets..it helps those with the app avoid a disgusting biohazardous situation and notifies the city to ensure it gets cleaned up promptly. Makes one wonder where the people in the encampment are doing their business?
Region of Durham converting old Sunnycrest Nursing Home on Oshawa/ Whitby boundary to temporary supportive housing
https://www.durhamradionews.com/archives/172912
Cobourg Retirement Residence is closing- maybe County and Town could partner with owners for temporary supportive housing?
Sounding eerily similar to what in Ptbo in June, unfortunately the victim died in that incident.
If officials can enter two residences and shut them down as unsafe after a stabbing.
Shouldn’t the same principles and capabilities apply to the situation on the west beach, in light of todays gun play?
https://globalnews.ca/news/9755655/man-murder-charged-wolfe-street-encampment-shooting-peterborough/
Breaking News. Police are attending the area of the West Beach because of reports of weapons and gun-shots at 4:45 pm. Police promise updates as available. There’s more at Pete Fisher’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/NT_pfisher
Update: Weapons Call South End of Hibernia Street – update as of 8:10 pm
On Wednesday, August 16th, 2023, at approximately 4:45 pm, officers were called to the south end of Hibernia Street regarding sounds of gunshots.
Officers were on scene moments later along with members of the Criminal Investigations Bureau.
The Cobourg Police Service continues to investigate this incident. At this time it is believed that there is no risk to public safety. Should you have any information regarding this incident please contact the Cobourg Police Service directly or consider using Crime Stoppers if you wish to remain anonymous.
That didn’t take long!
There was also a violent confrontation between 2 addicts in front of day camp children this afternoon. How long before a child or senior from Legion Village is injured, what’s it going to take, the death of a child?
Yesterday, a group of children and their leaders were in Rotary Park. The children looked bored listening to the Socratic method of teaching/learning because a fabulous natural and explorational area for meaningful discovery on the West Beach is no longer available to them.
Surprise –Little did you know that there was a Tent with 4 people sharing it at the same location of last wks over dose while the children where playing just the other side of the creek 20 ft away . Its also the sharps and syringes that are laying around
these frequented sites that can harm our Children and pets
Here we go Cobourg…you let the ADDICTS set up camp on the beautiful public beaches of this town, it won’t take long for the DRUG DEALERS to show up next. Build it and they will come. These people do not understand common decency, it’s all about their next fix. Wake up Cobourg…public officials MUST do something NOW!
Disgusted,
News reports are saying the witnesses said that it was 3 males non white who fled the area in a car.
On thing is for sure in that world, you can owe for rent, you can owe for food but you better make sure drug your debt is paid up- cash or your life.
Its terrifying and sickening that it happening in a busy public space, that was for the most sae for all residents to use during the daytime.
Cops called. 3 suspicious non white males. Between 2-4pm on king st, east of division. North side of king. I hope this helps. I know our locksmith has great cameras.
Unless i missed something, it is truly unbelievable that even now, after gun violence in the encampment area/community, we have none of our elected officials showing leadership during this crisis! Why the silence your constituents need you !!!!!!
Agree
U cant smile for the camera or cut ribbons to solve this.
It means sitting down at the table with your team and coming up with ideas and making hard decisions and seeing them thru.
If this was a natural disaster or some other community emergency that affected the lives and well being of the community, they d declare an emergency and convene their emergency measures group
Obviously organized crime involved (gang). Similar to murder downtown a few months ago. Positive the people at the encampment know the shooters or who sent them. A lady was killed just being near an injection site in Toronto a short time ago. When will a stray bullet kill someone here. Cobourg Police say “ No risk to public safety”. This is appalling! Time to make the move to OPP policing.
It was just stated on CTV News at Noon that a women who is associated with the Toronto Injection Site has been arrested and charged with being an accessory after the fact.
I reviewed the Waterloo decision.
Justice Valente notes that the encampment in that case was on a city gravel parking lot and not a public park.
He notes we all have a shared interest in public spaces which is not the case with parking lots.
Who is the town of Cobourg lawyer ? Did s/he read the decision?
The Town should remove the west beach encampment and if the squatters figure out how to bring a court application, defend it
You make a great point MAL. I wondered the same thing in that overall there is no comparison to Northumberland County, Cobourg, and the Kitchen-Waterloo Region so the Judge’s decision would also be different.
Absolutely could not agree more !!!
Agree as well. And this is why the editorial the other day (attached) suggested the Mayor and council took the easy way out. It’s now clear they probably didn’t even look at it. Just jumped in.
There is too much of this going on with Leadership. In my opinion we need the Mayor to step down.
https://twitter.com/NT_pfisher/status/1690752258940502017
Our MPP visited the encampment yesterday and in the interview with Pete Fisher at todaysnorthumberland.ca he states that our local by-laws must be enforced.
It is unreasonable for the homeless and their advocates to assume that housing must be provided for all, paid for by the taxpayer without conditions attached. Lawlessness is winning the day here in Cobourg. I may be more sympathetic if the homeless camped at the beach stated how hard they were looking for a job, so that they could afford to at least partially pay for taxpayer subsidized housing. Or how they are seeking assistance for illegal drug addiction, mental health issues etc. But there is none of that, what I hear is they feel they are entitled to housing, along with other benefits, being provided for them with no effort on their part. That’s not how things work. Guaranteed no matter where the homeless that are illegal drug addicts are allowed to reside mayhem will follow.
Agreed – I once hired a young lady, outstanding employee, who I later learned was homeless and living in a tent (showering at the YMCA). She didn’t disclosed it. She didn’t want a hand-out. She just showed up, worked hard, owned her responsibility, had integrity and got herself on track. I didn’t hear any of that coming out of the person in Pete’s video.
They all need to be removed – enough is enough.
I say, for the time being, allow encampments at Brookside, or better yet, open up Brookside as a housing action site for the homeless. There are showers and places for meals, and in order to stay there, perhaps you need to participate in work projects in order to get food vouchers, such as painting benches, picking up litter, etc.
There are 3 schools directly across from Brookside.
Having that set up at brookside beside 3 schools are you kidding me?! It’s not like they’re locked up, they would come and go. Very bad decision. Between the three schools you’re looking at 2500 students coming and going everyday.
Greenwood Coalition would fill it in a week!! The town would become unliveable
I read that Tweed is moving ahead with 24 unit apt building in Actinolite. The developer and Tweed are working with CMHC (Canadia Mortgage and Housing) to have reduced rents in 80 % units
https://www.quintenews.com/2023/08/15/apartment-building-proposal-gains-support/
Belleville City council on Monday voted to have staff apply for up to $22.3 million from a federal government program known as the Housing Accelerator Fund.
If successful the city must commit to several strategies eventually leading to 875 new residential units
https://www.quintenews.com/2023/08/15/313332/
I may have missed it, but what is the Town of Cobourg doing to tap into these govt grants and working with developers to get more housing into the community.
Is the Town working with CMHC? If not, why?
Surely if Actinolite, little Actinolite can get 24 new units added to their housing stock, Cobourg could double or triple that number to their stock?
Pete – Cost effective housing is very much needed by the general population but drug addicts should not be housed in any type of commercial housing. They are incapable of looking after it. They would just destroy it. However I do know people in their senior years that have rented their house for 32 years now and are under rent control. Their landlady has advised she plans to sell the house next year. They will be very hard pressed to afford the rents of today and in old age no chance of increasing their income with jobs. Apparently there are no politicians willing to take the appropriate steps on the drug addicts and have them placed in truly supervised housing with rules and programs. You shouldn’t be able to live at large and interfere with everyone elses human rights.
I will add there needs to be a reverse in the drug possession laws making it once again illegal to possess any quantity of these destroying hard core substances. Politicians need to step up to enact them. First to the supervised house that has drug testing, violation and they are then incarcerated in jails. Offered a hand up if not taken incarceration. I have known drug addicts who benefited from repeat incarceration often ending up there on the point of death who finally had the light go on and quit.
Not this federal government. They are the ones that changed the laws to decriminalize possession.
Well aware of it Jeffy! Watch who you vote for there are other choices.
What is also riveting and questionable from all of the photographs and videos that have been shown of the various encampments and rooming houses over the last few years are the number of displayed bicycles- new, old and in various stages of dismantlement.
that’s because they stock pile stolen items to sell to support their addiction….lock up your cars, your bikes and your yards!
So true. Early this morning I passed two of the known encampment people who were talking, perhaps scheming, while staring at the King George’s abandoned trailer on Third Street. Two bikes, two people.
“Wake up Cobourg…this is the tip of the iceberg!”….While enjoying a walk along the boardwalk last weekend I had a conversation with a couple from Peterborough. They were extremely upset to see what has happened on our lovely waterfront, a homeless encampment. Their words were simple…”wake up Cobourg, or your town will be ruined by addicts just like Peterborough has been ruined”. One only needs to visit Peterborough to see how the “homeless drug addicts have ruined that community. They allowed encampments and safe injection sites and look at the consequences. Time for our elected officials and police department to get a handle on this disgusting situation.
Talk to someone from Legion Village, it’s pretty bad, they need to hire security. The people are vulnerable and should not be afraid to go out. Move them out now, there must be somewhere away from kids and the elderly.
Walked along the boardwalk near ecology garden and 3 people were using the bench to shoot up in public. Disgusting. What the hell.
I’m not sure why we have Bylaw officers and police doing foot patrols if they don’t actually address issues. There were open fires, drug use and several off-leash dogs on the West Beach yesterday and officers just walked past. This afternoon there were people drinking alcohol while wrapped in sleeping bags on picnic tables in front of the Victoria Beach washrooms/ Tourist Information booth and several pairs of officers walked by and ignored it. Seems like a waste of money to have them patrolling.
I think we all know that our municipal elected officials and staff read this blog….you peek we know!!!!
I don’t think it would be to much to ask that we get an update on this issue from one of the TWO municipal communication teams ? Or maybe the County and Town of Cobourg have a joint media release on this important issue.
You own that much to your constituents.
Tell us something, anything !!!!
I’m curious where is the leadership from the Mayor and Council and why weren’t they out in front of this issue. They are silent. MIA. Speak only if spoken to. Where is the CAO? They are certainly present when creating Insta-content while in India, opening a new business or looking at sandcastles (please ignore the tents in the background). Isn’t damaged control and crisis management taught through the AMO? Where is the Chief or Deputy Chief? Where is the County spokesperson or Warden Mandy Martin – with her 40 years of journalism and communications experience? What about the Province? Where is any elected official, at any level?
The absence of leadership is unacceptable. They are failing us.
Hit the nail on the head!!!!…stay ahead of this, as a resident taxpayers and your consistency we require our political and civil servant leaders to step up and communicate during these difficult issues. THE SILENCE IS DEAFENING!!!
Agree. No end of photo ops on the easy stuff. But the real issues – nope not our problem they say by silence.
And the Police Chief and his self serving slide show – at Council last night pitching how safe Cobourg is.
They are failing badly in the latest encampment issue and this just adds to the drug problems in public places that Cobourg is facing. Safety is an issue.
Lost confidence in Leadership exists. The leaders need to look up and read the room. We can’t continue like this until the next election. Cobourg will be in sad shape if we have too.
Is it time for a Petition be considered, signed by residents of Cobourg calling out the lost confidence/failed leadership and request an new election be called as soon as possible.
Another option is to call in Media (CTV/Global/City News etc.)
Rational – you may be right. Is it time to consider a petition of non-confidence? If successful, who will run for the empty seats? Will they be any better? With regards to the Mayor, I think his lack of previous sr. leadership experience has become quite apparent and certainly his inexperience in the political arena is increasingly becoming a problem. He can’t hide from this and it is only getting worse the more he avoids it.
Remember this: WARRENDALE. https://youtu.be/KZc3uH2MR5A “TO make “Warrendale,” Allan King, the Canadian filmmaker, took a small crew and spent five weeks living with the staff and patients in a residential treatment center for emotionally disturbed children. The result is another extraordinary example of the kind of documentary movie that can now be made with equipment so portable and so unobtrusive that it apparently becomes an accepted fact in the lives of the people being observed.Like the films now being made by the Maysles brothers and others committed to the recording of fact, “Warrendale” is a stunning—and, in some ways, ruthless—movie. And, although it shared the International Critics’ Prize (with “Blow-Up”) at the Cannes Film Festival in 1967. I’m not at all sure it can be subjected to conventional criticism except on a purely technical level. Warrendale is a very special center, where the children live in groups of 12, with a trained staff of eight. Each child is taught, and even encouraged, to express his violent urges—the treatment for which is the physical holding of the child.”
These disturbed children had shelter in 1967. What do they have now in 2023?
If this problem of homelessness persists and enhances, Cobourg will become a very undesirable place to live. People will have no desire to move here and will look elsewhere. Current residents may even consider moving to another area. There will be economic consequences as well such as diminished property values plus ever increasing municipal taxes to cope with the situation. I call upon all levels of government to come up with a definitive plan and take immediate action.
Think of all the money spent branding the Town as “ The Feel good Town” and all the money spent to increase tourism over the years. People will stop visiting and moving here which will further erode Downtown business and the economy. Better stop this expansion of the encampment or there won’t be a Downtown that feels safe enough for the public to visit.
Exactly. It started with Tweak Easy, then more people came. Now the encampment. “If you build it, they will come”. And they certainly are.
The exodus from Cobourg has already begun.
Rules for thee but none for me.
We have a group, who thru the support of a vocal minority, have exempted themselves from the laws and rules of society.
They portray themselves as “victims” and because of their life decisions, we are to support them, with drugs, shelter , food on their terms.
We are not to question what if any efforts they are making to improve their lot.
If we do, we are labelled insensitive, uncaring or just mean.
Rules are an integral part of a safe functioning society and when a group decides to exempt themselves- chaos and lawlessness follows.
You could not have said it better.
Listening to Pete’s YouTube video is eye opening, quite the sense of entitlement. Just hand over a piece of property then we’ll squat there instead of our beach. The boyfriend seems pretty able bodied, why aren’t they working.
There were a lot of able bodied people in the video. Peterborough rapid detox is now open. They need to take advantage of the services, then move on to be productive members of society. There are lots of jobs out there. Weetabix is hiring. We need labourers to build homes, the list is endless. The residents of legion village are scared silly to go out for their daily walks. The “campers” are now using an outside the home plug to plug in their phones, and gaining access to use washrooms, all without permission. This must stop, it’s private property.
Cobourg Police Services where are you? If this is happening then it is illegal. You owe taxpayers to bring this under control. Or is it not a good photo op so the Police Chief says NO Don’t Go. Changes are needed.
Our society, our system of governance, and our corporate capitalist system are simply not equipped to handle outliers such as homelessness and addiction.
Once you no longer participate in the system you are on your own. A prosperous country like ours ought to have well staffed, well funded and strongly supported addiction treatment centres EVERYWHERE. A prosperous
nation like Canada ought to have well staffed and well funded homeless shelters EVERYWHERE. We don’t, because we are perfectly happy ignoring the problem and look to our southern neighbours as an example. We should be
looking to ourselves to commit to end homelessness and addiction as a positive and productive means to include everyone in our society.
Of course the MAGA lovers, the penny pinchers, the NIMBYists, the faux
conservatives, politicians of every stripe will rail and rage against an equitable
society. Ever wonder why many businesses support hockey teams, hospitals, etc., but never seem to throw the same support to addiction and homelessness? Lack of controls on avaricious landlords, low wage paying corporate giants, and greedy pharmaceutical companies (remember the Sacklers) who take but never give back, these are the cause of many of our problems. And look who attends addiction and homelessness crises: the police and by-law officers. Do doctors and nurses attend? Do Wardens and Council members attend? Why not?
I have no truck with criminals and criminality. Or revolving door judges and justices of the peace.
We picked these systems and now we are living we the consequences.
I had to look up the acronym NIMBY, as I have frequently seen it tossed around a lot lately, seemingly as a derogatory term. I guess I am a NIMBY. MAGA lovers are American and it is such a feeble, overused pejorative to describe people who do not agree with other’s opinions. It is the Canadian Federal Liberals who have created many of these issues. (Not the Classical Liberals I used to know to be true). Penny pinchers, yes there are many, as they are struggling to feed their children, pay high mortgages, rent and taxes. They do so by working their asses off and are exhausted (some working 2 jobs). So to lay blame at their feet is irresponsible and cruel. Why don’t the YIMBYS (Yes in my backyard) open their doors? There is always the fundamentalist Mormon communes, with their socialist-type economy. But they also adhere to law and order. With hardcore addictions (where you cannot work or pay for the necessities of life) there will Always be crime. The two go together. Do not be fooled.
Eastender – sounds like Communism! Something to be said for the ethics and values of prior years. “Never had no welfare state, everybody pulled his weight”. Families were comprised of two parents unless the unfortunate circumstance of death of one. Raising children was taken very seriously. I recall a much different fabric of life with church a part of the majority. Growing up in a rough area the families there held values that said get a job, support yourself although there was opportunity to observe the lives of those that did not but even those did not live on the street and were in the minority of the area. People grateful for their new subsidized housing moving from rooming houses – the luxury of having their own bath. Grateful was the key.
Today their are so many that expect/demand to be looked after. Exactly what kind of homes are these people coming from? What has enabled the kinds of families that have produced these people?
“Families were comprised of two parents unless the unfortunate circumstance of death of one”
This comment culled from a comment that wishes us all back to the 1950s is symptomatic of the attitudes today – it ignores the reality of 2023!
Ben, how does the “reality of 2023” differ from that of the 1950s? Expectations are certainly higher — own bedroom, personal cell phone, air conditioning, “free” healthcare, etc — but what is fundamentally different today other than the lack of a work ethic in many?
This is the most cogent post I have seen. Yes, It all comes down the the individual work ethic and will of the homeless person.They are homeless because they want, and enjoy the free benefits of being homeless. The solution is to stop coddling these people and they will go away to another town that offers them the “champagne and red carpet welcome” they want
Well if poster “Rob Horgan” is correct and the tents are actually on federal land — maybe our illustrious town council should call in the RCMP to handle things – after all, they are our “federal” police force and perhaps would be more effective at controlling the trespassing on these “federal” lands!
Same as last night the Buddy bus is parked by the Eco garden with the lights on.
When will the town council and Mayor start caring about the rest of us????
There are so many in town working several jobs who could use our help.
When do our childrens safety become a priority when can people who live here be safe on the downtown area, kids at the library and start helping our people who work here .
How many in the tents are willing to go into rehab and how many are from Cobourg.???
It’s time to start sticking up for what is right.
I likely missed this information but, where is the woman with all the tats and her boyfriend from?? If from Cobourg then they had a family at one time, so let the family look after them. If not, then the Cobourg Police should usher them out of town. The same goes for all the “homeless”. Go back to where you came from.
Move ’em on.
She’s from Cobourg, but if you read posts from her 3 children on FB Cobourg Politics, you will get an eye opener about how she treated (or mistreated) her kids. I have no sympathy for someone who thinks it’s okay to squat on a public beach and if not there, well, give me some land.
Perhaps the way to get the attention of our County leaders is to allocate/ship Cobourg’s homeless to all towns in Northumberland on a population proportional basis. Then every Town’s Mayor in Northumberland County can partake in this problem first hand. And not just read about it on the Blog or on Facebook and issue a sigh of relief.
And if the homeless’ legal counsel is right about the homeless being on Federal not Town beach frontage, why does our Town Council have to learn about this from the homeless’ legal counsel? Time to get some heavy hitting Town counsel experienced in strategy on this issue.
What a complete mismanaged debacle.
Why not have a Housing Advisory Committee? There are plenty of folks in town who have good ideas. As far as I know, these committees include a Town of Cobourg staff member. If the group can collectively come up with some serious strategies/solutions the town will listen. I realize that housing is a county responsibility, but what exactly is happening at that level of government?? Isn’t this idea better than nothing??
This cuurrent council stopped most advisory Committees , moved to the same model as Northumberland County, no constituency/resident on the committee’s just more elected officials and staff
There are seven advisory committees plus other committees made up of citizens. Please check the facts.
Diana, are you certain of your facts? See https://www.cobourginternet.com/council/advisory-committees
County is doing nothing different than the Province has done to Munis. They’ve passed down their responsibilities to the Munis without commensurate funds to deal with the issues. County has, with the acquiescence of the Mayor, their responsibilities for housing of the homeless and the addicted.
Let’s be practical – never mind the arguments about blame or causes.
When the five houses were shutdown about 50 residents lost their spaces, I will not say they were good or bad, the spaces, but at least they were sheltered.
Within 72 hours, when their “free’ Vouchers ran out those fifty people were homeless. With only 4 spaces in Transition house what happened to the other 46?
If you want to question the figures talk to the source – The Mayor; he told me!
Placing blame does not solve the problem, I get that. What 5 houses? There was 1 address on Division St. The owner may have 5 houses but only the Division St. house was closed. I think I read 5 residents (5 people, not 5 houses/residences), not 50, were given 72 hours for free. There are up to 20 people at the beach from an interview with a woman living there. How much work is involved to repair the house? Other than raw sewage I have not heard details. Maybe the sewage can be pumped out, repairs made and the the 5 people moved back in. The neighbours will not like this as there has been problems at that address for years. Transition house dedicated 4 beds for this particular situation. I am not sure there was only 4 beds available. Rooms have been rented at local hotels for people in need. Is this not happening anymore? The woman interviewed and her boyfriend may not be able to share a bed at transition house but maybe then can share a room at a motel if that option still exists. Transition house also offers service to help people find more permanent solutions. How many of those 4 beds were used?
I watched the interview Pete fisher did with the homeless woman Virginia. She seemed pretty strung out but her boyfriend seemed able bodied and able to work. There are multiple jobs available in Cobourg. I was homeless one time myself. I went and got a job. Got a crappy little apartment soon after and worked my way up to where I am today.
I learned you can’t sit around and expect other people to do everything for you. Can’t somebody steer this guy to a place of employment?
Sonya-
Her children’s letters are in the comment section on Pete Fisher’s video. She abandoned them. The letters are heartbreaking, they do not even call her mom. Totally different perspective. Addicts are very good at manipulating. Her one child is so angry at how “she has twisted the narrative.” They both have zero sympathy.
Her children are here in this world because of her. Take control of your Mother.
The other houses were on Major Street and John Street.
“The other houses were on Major Street and John Street.”
and all four of them had evictions totaling 45 people and the houses themself shut down?
I cannot write a comment on the number of people that totals 45. Like the rental unit of King Street west, illegal drug activity is grounds for eviction. The sign that was posted on the Major Street rooming house stated that it was closed for being an illegal one.
Marya, the property was not zoned to allow a rooming house.
You are right, Ken, and an added feature with these places is that the allowed rate of occupancy is often exceeded, which is also grounds for eviction.
Yes, the owner has a house on Major St. and 2 semi-detached homes, one at area _51 John St. These houses, and her 5th one, are not closed. Inspections happened at John St. but to the best of my knowledge nobody was removed.
My understanding is there are 5 or 6 different options available including hotel on Division St Cobourg,Transition House, privately owned homes in Port Hope and Campbellford and a hotel in Brighton, maybe more?? These are all under the jurisdiction of Northumberland County …..have these options been offered to the people living rough at the beach ????
So Ben, I guess five houses weren’t shut down. Is the number (50) of residents still equal 50?
I don’t know Frenchy do you, the number of fifty came from a very good source the Mayor who directed the operation.
Ben, as you you wrote, let’s be practical – never mind the arguments about blame. Perhaps the mayor told you the owner has 5 rooming houses, legal or not, with about 50 people in total. We do know the residents of one house were given 72 hours in a motel and at least some ended up on the beach. How much work is really involved to get the closed house livable? Lots of houses have had sewage backups and repairs were made. In the interview Virginia mentions trying to help homeless people by providing a place for them to sleep. That was when she had a place for herself and now by having a community tent. Of course this contributed to the over use of the house she was living in and possibly the closing of it. Maybe we should have a by-law requiring regular inspections of rooming houses. If there were regular inspections, problems would hopefully not get to the extreme that happened at the Division St. location. Area _51 John St. had inspections a year or two ago. The grounds were cleaned up, nobody was moved out and things seemed to be better. Let’s be practical and find a more appropriate solution than a tent on the beach.
A 3 bedroom house allows for 6 people max. Two per room.
Hmm source this comment – there arr plenty of big families living in three BR houses
According to Cobourg’s zoning rules:
BOARDING OR ROOMING HOUSE shall mean any dwelling or building or portion thereof, in which the proprietor resides and supplies for hire or gain to other persons, lodging with or without meals, but shall not include a hotel, motel, apartment, hospital, home for the young or the aged, group home or other institution, restaurant accommodating the general public, or a bed and breakfast establishment. Such a building may supply guest rooms for more than four (4) and up to a maximum of ten (10) persons.
See Section 3.13 at https://www.cobourg.ca/en/resources/Devanne/Town-of-Cobourg_Zoning-By-law_85-2003.pdf
When looking at zoning and specifically when looking at rooming houses and occupant loads. A five bedroom rooming house would be allowed 10 occupants.
Informed, I believe that saying “a rooming house can have 10 occupants” is more accurate since the zoning bylaw doesn’t appear to mention the number bedrooms.
Transients aren’t families
There must be empty buildings that could be converted to Rooming houses or bachelor apartments? Get these people off the beach and downtown streets. Get some kind of roof over their heads, SOMETHING, before the winter comes!
I say again, where did these people come from. Homeless from where. It seems to me that the children of this “tat” woman are ashamed of her and don’t want to help. Then why should all the good tax paying people foot the bill for these people who actually have family here in Cobourg. If not from Cobourg, then be on your way back to where you came from. Get rid of these “friday night tents”, they serve no purpose, but to bolster the problem we are trying to get rid of. Let’s get Cobourg, back to the feel good town that we advertise and should be proud to call home.
Read the letters from her children, they won’t help her, she stole from them and abandoned them in the middle of the night,
According to maps provided by the Town of Cobourg, most of the tents are not on Town land but Federal land as declared by the Federal Waterways Act. The town property starts at the high water mark (i.e., first point of permanent vegetation.
High water mark. Ha. So the people who live at the lake at the West beach who block off the lake in front of their property shouldn’t be doing this? Oh wait, the town caved and said she could and the town said it’s her property. So let’s get this straight. The town says the beach is federal land so they can’t do anything about the homeless, but then a little further down they allow the property owners to claim all the lake front for their own. Something doesn’t add up.
The individual at the bottom end of Ontario Street has a deed declaring that their private property extends to the water’s edge. You can walk past the property if you walk in shallow water.
Rob Horgan, Cornbread & Wally
My understanding is that all of the west beach properties are privately owned except for the piece south of the athletic field which is owned by the Town. I believe that all of these properties are deeded to the “low water mark” or “waterline”. Some (all?) may also have “water lots” which extend out into the lake.
I searched for the “Federal Waterways Act” and found nothing. Perhaps Mr. Horgan would care to share his source.
I further understand that the transfer of property is a provincial responsibility under section 92 of the Constitution Act.
I believe it is highly unlikely that the West Beach or any portion of it is Federal land.
Rob Horgan, Cornbread & Wally
Some (most) of the confusion and mis-information about shoreline and waterline passage rights may stem from the 2012 federal private member’s bill (Kim Craitor) that failed to pass and get into law.
Bill 103, Great Lakes Shoreline Right of Passage Act, 2012
An Act to create a right of passage along the shoreline of the Great Lakes
https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-40/session-1/bill-103
This bill only received 1st reading only and was not passed.
It does however contain some interesting concepts and definitions. See below at the end of this comment.
Shoreline ownership is somewhat uncertain and evolving in Ontario. For those interested read The Boundary Point, a newsletter providing analysis and commentary about Ontario boundary law.
Ownership of Beach Lands – The Evolving State of Water Boundary Law in Ontario
https://4pointlearning.ca/4PL/TheBoundaryPoint_vol10(2).pdf
Bill 103 (2012)
Interpretation
1. (1) In this Act,
“high water mark” means the mark on the shore of a lake where the presence and action of water is so continuous as to leave a distinct mark either by erosion, destruction of terrestrial vegetation or other easily recognizable characteristic.
Same
(2) In this Act and the regulations, a reference to the Great Lakes includes the St. Lawrence River and the connecting channels of the Great Lakes.
Right of passage
2. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this Act, any person may exercise a right of passage along the shoreline of any Great Lake between the water’s edge and the high water mark.
Limitations
(2) The right of passage along the shoreline is limited to a right of passage on foot or by other non-motorized means and does not include a right of passage by means of a vehicle or other motorized form of transportation.
Same
(3) The right of passage does not include,
(a) a right to use the shoreline for any purpose other than passage on foot or by other non-motorized means; or
(b) a right of access to the shoreline.
Assumption of risks
3. (1) Subject to subsection (2), a person who is exercising his or her right of passage along the shoreline of a Great Lake assumes any risks associated with that passage.
Duty of care
(2) A person who has an interest in the shoreline of any Great Lake owes a duty to a person who is exercising his or her right of passage along the shoreline,
(a) to not create a danger with the intention of doing harm or damage to the person or his or her personal property; and
(b) to not act with reckless disregard for the presence of the person or his or her personal property.
Conduct
4. A person who is exercising his or her right of passage along the shoreline of a Great Lake shall do so in compliance with any rules of conduct that may be prescribed by regulation.
Existing property rights
5. Except to the extent that this Act creates a right of passage, nothing in this Act interferes with property rights along the shoreline of the Great Lakes.
No expropriation or injurious affection
6. Nothing in this Act or the regulations and nothing done in accordance with this Act or the regulations constitutes an expropriation or injurious affection for the purposes of the Expropriations Act.
Offence
7. (1) No person shall interfere with the right of passage along the shoreline of the Great Lakes.
Most of that proposed legislation is simply theft of private property without compensation. Further, issues such as livestock control fencing on farms along a shoreline, privacy of the property owner and liability if someone exercising their right of passage is injured are not addressed.
Ken,
Those may be reasons why the bill(s) (fed Bill103 2012 and Ont Bill 202 2007) failed to pass. Unfortunately, some people believe that they did become law and try to invoke the rights provided.
I think it’s called a deed and it’s a good thing the owners enforced it.
An organization offered the use of their land but your group refused, all in plain site of the legion village, children’s day camps, and residents walking daily. Garbage, human waste, and used needles are strewn about. Anybody with a level head and critical thinking sees what comes next. As I have asked the enablers, sorry, supporters to offer an ADU, they say no, I ask why, because they’re addicts. Wake up, they’re not your friends. Friends don’t enable you and others to use, a good friend would show you a route to get clean and get on with your life.
Cathy- they were offered use of an organization’s land?
Or am I misunderstanding?
there was an offer, so yes.
Thanks very much Cathy. Infuriating!! Selfishness and Entitlement. My Nanna lives at the Legion Village and is terrified, you should hear what she tells me has been happening down there.
3rd generation here, and this is what she has to endure??! Horgan moved here a year ago from Bowmanville and has caused nothing but trouble. The irony— he says he is writing a book on war vets, then one on Ms. McLean.
I am Disgusted
I can’t begin here newbie, I am so sorry that your nana, other residents, and staff are having to go through this. It’s not right.
This is how Belleville handles it
I think I’ll just sell my house and get free accommodation. Sounds like a good deal!
I hope Cobourg Council is getting some advice from their legal team and Northumberland County. If the vacancies at transition house and the other facilities meet the obligation/ definition of a”truly accessible accommodation” as stated by the courts, then they must enforce the bylaws!
A article in Todays Northumberland (attached) infers exactly this. Given the questionable way the Mayor and Council have handled the number of issues over the past few weeks and the decisions taken, they may very well be reaching the “Tipping Point”.
https://twitter.com/NT_pfisher/status/1690752258940502017
This article was not a news story but an editorial from the owner of the online publication.
As such it should not be taken as ‘news’ but as an opinion.
Big difference
That’s right. Doesn’t change the fact that council is making questionable decisions. And those decisions impact the residents and taxpayers of Cobourg. Council is unqualified, at least in my opinion.
No need to go as far as the US to see how quickly homeless encampments can destroy a city’s image. Victoria, BC, has been cursed with some of the weakest Councils for the past few years, believing themselves to be the champions of the homeless, no rules or guidelines until the downtown area became a battleground of smashed store windows, looting on a grand scale, people threatened or attacked on the streets and on their own properties. One main street in particular has become blocks of tents and squalor. Police routinely check and find stolen bikes, stolen tools. The province has bought several small hotels only to abandon the idea later when they became havens for drug dealers. Many stores have closed for good and moved elsewhere after one too many break ins and substantial theft. Good friends from Toronto used to spend two months in Victoria in the winter. This year they went home early, swearing never to return. They were heartbroken to see what had become of their favourite destination. Cobourg, it is not your responsibility alone, the county and the province are partners in this problem. It is your responsibility to ensure Council understands the danger of not cracking down at an early stage. No waffling. It’s time for action.
Well said!
“ It’s time for action.”
and that action would be – what?
The silence is deafening from Northumberland County……
They would rather see Cobourg handle the brunt of the work and pain.
The Mayor who sits on County Council needs to change that in a hurry!
Driving on the 401 the other day, I saw yet another large block of storage units being built to house peoples’ excess goods. Does anyone else wonder why this cannot be formatted to house excess people trying to find affordable housing.
And reinstate rent control in Toronto and the province. Greed knows no bounds and basic housing should be a right.
Apparently New Zealand, or maybe it is only Auckland, has come up with mission oriented goals vis-a-vis address housing crisis and achieving some success. Maybe there are other lessons learned, bench marks that Council/staff should research. Whatever the solutions they won’t come without compromise from NIMBYists, folks who live in wealthier parts of town and Town planners/Zoning By-Laws.
The homeless moved to the beaches of California, now look at them. Once beautiful beaches that drew in 1000s of tourists are a literal cess pool of shit and narcotics. People need to wake up and stop allowing these “encampments”. Protect the elderly who are struggling, the single parents struggling. The crackheads can fend for themselves elsewhere. Let the food banks and welfare system be used for people who genuinely need it. If you can wake up each day and beg and steal for a fix you can take a shower and get a job.
That crackhead who did the interview couldn’t even take her sunglasses off to show her shifty eyes. We shouldn’t offer any help to those who are not willing to help themselves. Either clean up and become productive or let nature take its course. Housing and food is not helping its enabling them. Why get a job if everything is free Petty crime is skyrocketing and our government doesn’t allow basic self defense. We will get overrun by crime if they don’t start acting on it. If our city wants to have these people reside here, then take the neighborhoods our officials live in and give them a spot in their very own backyards. Stop saying downtown is the place because of resources, it’s a small town they can walk from city officials backyards to where they are going.
What’s next, typhoid, cholera, dysentery, from the unsanitary conditions? These squatters are a public health hazard, why should they be given priority over families and the most vulnerable (Legion Village).
Move them out now, away from the public, give them an area to camp in, with further aid
If they accept treatment. Bad behaviour and choices should not be rewarded, don’t make martyrs of them, you reap what you sow.
You can read the letters from her children here.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/573501279515689/permalink/2192967304235737/?mibextid=Nif5oz
Time to check on Christian Bailey to make sure that he is okay.
We have a Premier in Ontario who goes totally out of his way to improve the lives of Billionaires by handing them huge properties on the Green Belt so they can build homes for rich people. Handing them BILLIONS of dollars !
Would it be possible to get a government official of some description to say something, anything about one of todays worst problems facing ALL of Ontario. Homeless People need a hand up ! That, I believe is one of the reasons why we have a government. We have hardly heard a word on homelessness from any level of government regarding this problem.
But for sure we won’t get started working on this problem if we continue to vote for Conservative governments.
Why do poor and rural people vote for a government that only works behind the scene to improve the lives of the wealthy ? Has Doug Ford even had one word dealing with issues around the homeless ? Does he fill the role of an involved and concerned Premiere ? Never.
The old Nursing Home and Brookside will both be torn down before anything will be done to make use of either of these locations. Both could be opened tomorrow to provide housing for the homeless. There is more than enough room to locate a Drug Addiction Rehab Center for these people. Yes, there will be problems – lots of them. But that is the job of government – make the hard decisions that need to be made to help ALL citizens and to at least try to improve the conditions of the citizens who are the worst off..
I can’t believe that we can all sit back and just watch this continue to get worse and worse.
Lets get started and in the future only vote for politicians that are out to help ALL people in Ontario by including some program to help the homeless.
Doug
Bill C5, which is at the heart of all of our local homeless and bylaw enforcement issues, is a Federal Liberal Bill, not a Doug Ford Conservative Bill. Google it and take a read of it. The Provincial Conservatives have their own self inflicted wounds to to deal with, but the challenges Cobourg is facing now were caused by the courts’ interpretation of Federal Bill C5.
Doug Ford cut $330 million in planned mental health funding, and since then has only replaced tiny fractions of what he took away.
The Ford government is claiming a $25 million boost in these areas when it’s actually quietly slashing more than a quarter of a billion dollars. Along with the Indigenous Supportive Housing Program, the newly amalgamated Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative, Home for Good and the Strong Communities Rent Supplement Program have been allocated $494 million in annual funding. That’s $268 million less than the $762 million all these programs were budgeted to receive in 2021-22.
Doug you forget that our Liberal prime minister has contributed to this provincial housing problem with all the immigration and illegal immigrants that they are bringing in, we need a change at the top in a most desperate way. If you are a liberal supporter than you are part of the problem.
Doug – I took a minute and wrote to P.M. Trudeau about his disasterous laws and the effects they are having on all communities and certainly ours. The Federal Government is your culprit with their ridiculous laws. He has also stated despite allowing the immigration problem to be out of control he is not responsible for housing!
Thanks for the replies. I certainly don’t know all the ways of all our governments.Your replies have presented good information.
I would say that right now the local, provincial and federal governments all avoid the issue of homelessness. The issue is mostly, by law, the responsibility of our Provincial government. Doug Ford has never responsibly talked about the issues of the homeless. He has clearly guided Ontario government funds towards his rich friends. Just wait to see what he spends on new roads for the Green Belt.
But yes about Justin. He needs to stand up now, offer Federal money to ALL provinces and set parameters to get a program started to help both the homeless and provide social work staffing to get the help that so many drug addicts need.
Do any efforts exist to control the flow of available drugs?
I have a strong social conscience but have voted over the years for all major political parties. There was even a time when Conservative Parties gave some respect and financial support to people who were down and out. Both Bill Davis and Brian Mulroney did some good things. But Steven Harper and now the unbelievable P. Poilievre and the last 4 or 5 US Republican Presidents have set a tone amongst Conservative and Republican politicians that their main objective is to favour the business elite and protect the wealthy.
In both Canada and the USA the Middle Class pay a much larger percentage of their income for taxes than do the wealthy. That fact alone explains why our societies are falling apart. We have lived through better times. We need a government that cares for everyone – not just their supporters. But we are in a time where people vote for their OWN best interest rather than the best interest of everyone in their country.
If we don’t help the down and out then nothing will ever improve. So just sit back and watch the rich get richer and watch the drop out gang grow and grow until everyone around us has fallen down. That seems to be the direction WE have all chosen to follow. Politicians no longer try to work together for the better of everyone. They work against and hate each other. Sad but true
Doug in reading your answer I searched to see if you are aware that it is the Federal Liberals who have made the laws that ham string the police in arresting them. Catch and Release, encampments, “safe” injection sites. You should continue to inform yourself on what the current Federal goverment is and has done. I’m sure if you do you will select another party to vote for.
Doug, how do you help “the down and out”? In Virginia’s letter she lists a number of professions/skills the homeless people have. She has stated they are responsible adults. Why did they not fix the sewage problem themselves or force the landlord to do it? Sometimes helping means not accommodating. Maybe everybody has a right to housing but who has the responsibility to provide it? What if it is offered and turned down, like a room at Transition House? What if the people destroy the housing? You mentioned the middle class paying a much larger percentage of their income in taxes compared to the wealthy. Should the wealthy be paying more in taxes to build more housing that gets destroyed? Who would really benefit other than the government workers collecting taxes of the wealthy?
The only problem with Brookside and the Golden Plough is that more and more homeless will fill these places and once these people find out they will come by the droves. More of them will be hanging out downtown Cobourg and our useless Mall begging. There will be more businesses and homes broken into. Peterborough has a hugh homeless building and from what I have heard half of the homeless won’t stay in it because they can’t take in their dogs and drugs. All these do gooders should take a homeless person home with them and the homeless person would be kicked out the first day. Guess we will see what council does about this situation. The pressure is on them.
Unfortunately we will see more and more tents because word is out. This is the tip of the iceberg.
Will be a cold winter living in tents. Maybe the geese could go in the tents and snuggle up to them to keep them warm
How about the old arena, if there are no firetrucks inside, they can pop up their tents inside or connect David Puccini about the vacancy at Brookside, after all our provincial taxes are paying for this, why not own it.
We need are woke town and county councils to get off their butts.
How much attention are councils giving this matter?
The woman interviewed stated they are responsible adults.
ok then, place these people on the “tents only” sites at the the town owned trailer park.
they have access to washrooms, laundry and must abide by the rules of the campground.
if they break the rules and are a disruption to other campers, give them the boot out of there and then they are on there own.
prove you are responsible.
There should be no such thing as a “Free Ride” for these no home people. They should be forced to do some type of work for the town…even if they have to clean up Victoria Park, sweep a few streets or hand clean the beach. Hangin’ around don’t cut it in my book.
I agree, so, at the very least charge them whatever they were paying to “live” at the Division Street house
I suspect the union might object to non-union labour performing work and thereby taking away employment from union members.
Seriously!
And if they don’t comply ?
Maybe they will get help from Mr. Horgan (the gentleman who disrupted Council yesterday). See https://globalnews.ca/news/9910150/storm-struck-cobourg-encampment-peterborough-relocations/ for details of his work.
Read the letters from her children to see how responsible she is. You’ll find them to read on the group “no hard drugs.” They’ve been deleted everywhere else by people that enable the drug addicts.
I’m fine with drug addicts living in tents.when they are tested for drugs and show negative then we can start to talk about housing. Who in there right mind would rent to a drug addict? They should get the bare necessities.give them some incentive to get off the drugs. We have groups in Cobourg that seem to want to keep them addicted.
Although this article is a few years old, it is well written (Ian Brown writes for the Globe and Mail).
The key takeaway for me is creating community involvement and education. Obviously the community can’t solve the problem but can assist law enforcement officers and the town council. It would be great if the police and town council set up community volunteer programs to assist.
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/12/15/671330150/nowhere-to-go-but-up-a-small-town-confronts-its-addiction-crisis
Today’s Northumberland quotes Virginia as saying they are “responsible adults” but who throws used syringes away in public parks where children, seniors and pets can step on them? Many people have reported drug paraphernalia on the West Beach, the Legion green space, the Ecology Garden and the boardwalk, all areas frequented by the children at summer Day Camp. The shopping carts, garbage and smell from human feces and urine are a huge problem. What can be done to prompt the County to do something? Can Brookside not be used? It at least has toilets.
Or the Counties OLD GOLDEN PLOUGH
Everything in place now
But other communities that provide No services have far fewer problems
they don’t stay
Sandpiper,
You often mention using the “old” Golden Plough. Have you been there recently? The ‘old” GP is still in service housing its residents. There is no room for the homeless. Have you visited the “new” GP site recently? It’s a long way from being finished and housing residents
The “old” GP could be part of a solution several years from now, but not currently.
Bryan:
Thank you for this. I get very annoyed at seeing this bright, modern facility being called “old”.
It’s the existing Golden Plough as far as I’m concerned, and it is not “old” by any measure.
It is scheduled to be demolished next summer, last I heard, while basic, low-cost housing is sorely needed right here in town.
Parts of it should be destroyed. Blacklock 1 and blacklock 2 is a well built part of the building. Built in 1972. It would be great for rehab. The county needs to step up.
It’s county property. It could be used in the future for a rehab facility. This problems not going away overnight. As far as drug addicts being housed, how do you do that. They destroy everything they touch including other people’s lives.
If the town put them at the beach, then porta potties, garbage bins, and sharps containers should be supplied. It’s disgraceful that the tents were allowed when an organization offered use of their lands.
Sonya, which organization offered the use of their lands? And are their lands near to others?
Who will pay for the porta potties, garbage bins, sharps containers and removal of garbage, etc? They will likely all be destroyed like our bus terminal bathrooms that we paid for. Maybe GWC will pay! When you are tweaked…you are just that—out of control of your mental faculties. And 24/7 you cheat, lie, steal, beg, sell your body for money to feed that monster.
I agree. Has anyone informed the parents of the kids that go to summer camp that there’s an encampment feet away. Kids walking around in bare feet. Feet away from a seniors residence.
Anyone following the rather remarkable Facebook conversation on the Division St evictions? It started with an open letter someone posted from one of the evictees (had to get out immediately with nowhere to go – clearly suffering from addiction) followed by posts in the comments section from her adult/teen children (she’s had ample opportunity to access help and has not etc). Now the encampment, the Fisher interview and this Waterloo decision. It’s been quite something watching all this unfold.
So, what is this facebook page called?
Cobourg Politics
https://www.facebook.com/groups/573501279515689/permalink/2192967304235737/?mibextid=Nif5oz
How long will it be before the red tent sets up down there?
Tweak easy has an injection site every Friday night at Henleys arcade from 7 to 10. The last I heard they had 30 people there. They had to call emergency services for one client. It’s an act of protest and defiance it says in a go fund me. I think that’s a good reason to take it down.
Who is paying for all the tents? Follow the money.
I think this is the point a commenter was making in the Police Annual Report post by mentioning the the Homeless-Industrial Complex. If the goal is really to end homelessness then the people making a living running programs for the homeless would be out of work. Much of the money donated privately or from government goes to pay people who are not homeless. I do not doubt that many people have good intentions but if all the people really wanted to solve the problem we would. We can send people to space, build weapons capable of killing every person on this planet, build a communication system capable of sending messages to every corner of the globe in seconds, surely we can build housing.
How about some really basic structures made of materials that are difficult to damage. Concrete, despite the negative environmental impact, is one such material. Concrete walls with insulation on the outside, concrete floors, etc. These types of structures would require little maintenance, last a very long time and have a high fire rating. Once the homeless population has such basic shelter then resources could be used to help them get off drugs, find productive uses for their time etc. Does the county really want to house the homeless? The scrap bricks from the new Golden Plow or the ones from the old one to be demolished could be used to build the walls of simple structures. The tiny house idea but much more durable. In Pete Fisher’s interview a woman who was displaced from the Division St. building mentions being a responsible adult. How responsible were the people living there? Did they contact the landlord about maintenance issues? Did they file the appropriate forms with the LTB, with help from the Help Centre if necessary? Or did they deal drugs, damage the property, steal and paint bicycles in back?
Do the people who control the money really want to end homelessness? Do the homeless really want to be responsible and do what it takes to help themselves? Mother nature will clear the encampment on the beach in a few months. We are staying tuned JD!
The Pay cheque mentality at the County won” t allow those people to think out side of the Box . To Impose rules that ensure these accommodations you speak of to be used and maintained by these
Home less One building I toured a few months back in Tor that a person I know leases to the City for Homeless and in some cases immigrants Told me that his building will be a tear down at the end of the 7 yr term of the lease .
The tenants have stripped the building of any thing of value several time s over Any and all Copper from Elc . wire to light bulbs to Plumbing etc etc even door locks and knobs .
The City continues to spend Tax payers $$$$$ endlessly
in maintenance of this structure But never imposes or enforces
penalties / punishment Re hab or work in leu. of room and board .
greenwood coalition
Disgusted. Housing provided without commitment to abstinence programs. I pity the owners of these properties. Toronto report hotel accommodation to addicts – smashed furniture, garbage and feces littering the rooms. Tax pay funded whether it be Town or County. “Connecting to supports” – How about a follow up as to how many have enrolled and are working on their predicament?
Can it be generalized/verified that all homeless people have addiction issues?
No, but the people are.
Sorry, meant no, but these people are
marya – I was commenting on the troubles experienced by housing people with active addiction problems why would I include all homeless in my comment? Never did I say all homeless. That comment and this posted by Orginal Dave.
It was just a question, Dave, and not a refutation or a condemnation of what You wrote.
Then why direct it to me in response to my post marya? Why not make it a separate post if you felt the need to point out there are various people in the homeless population? I find your response weak in explanation and off topic to my post.
Question to Mr. Draper – I did not make the reply to Old Sailor stating greenwood coalition – there appears then to be a 2nd Dave. Other glitches – when you try and edit the system informs you you are commenting to quickly and won’t allow the edit. Perhaps you could change him to David?
Dave & JD
I have also got the “commenting to quickly” warning. More “change over” pains from the new host system