This week some voters have begun to vote in advance polls and others will start online or via phone later in the week.
Voter Information Letters have been mailed out to voters and this week voters should have received the details on how their municipality is voting. Please contact them if you have not received a Voter Information Letter or need to verify if you are registered to vote.
Each municipality has set up its own Election Help Centres. We have links to each Municipal Election website at: greybrucevotes.com (scroll to the bottom of the page).
Bruce County Libraries will be available to direct you to your local Election Help Centres.
Hanover Library will have a secluded computer with access to the Internet and the online voting system, with staff assistance for people using the computer to vote, but not assistance with voter’s list or registration services.
Are candidates getting our housing message?
Housing is the greatest source of inequality in our communities right now. Paul Kershaw, of Generation Squeeze, a think-tank focused on generational equity wrote a report on housing unaffordability in Ontario. TVO also speaks to how long term renters, many who are seniors with fixed incomes, are in an increasingly precarious position.
Many organizations raised the question of affordable housing and homelessness at All Candidate Debates, in Facebook conversations and in-person engagement with candidates. Here are a few public recordings of All Candidate Debates:
Truth and Reconciliation Commission: we encourage you to take the time to reflect, listen, and learn about the Calls to Action
The Nawash Ezhiwebaghas a listing of Truth and Reconciliation Day ceremonies and activities happening at Neyaashiinigming First Nation.
Saugeen First Nation also has a full day of events planned in partnership with GC Huston Public School including a Zgaa-biig-ni-gaan renewal ceremony (11am) and events with various programs in the afternoon. They will have booths on site during the day. Their focus of the day is “Our Children – Past, Present and Future”. They are looking at what is needed today and moving into the next 7 generations to ensure the safety, protection, good health and wellbeing of their children and further, the support of the families.
Many municipalities, towns, schools and libraries are holding events this week and on Friday.
Housing remains a critical municipal election issue as municipalities play an important role in facilitating the development of affordable rental housing. We have updated the Poverty, Voting and Election page with recent reports and questions for candidates and voters to consider:
The Municipal Role in Housing studies (Munk School, 2022) emphasizes the role of municipalities in setting zoning policies and approval processes that can help meet the need for housing in their regions.
Grey County has announced updates to its official plan. Some of the changes include allowing for more Additional Residential Units (ARUs) in existing dwellings, as well as a separate structure on a property. Currently, you can have one or the other, not both. This would allow for tiny homes, employee housing and co-housing.
Bruce County Housingannounced a new Municipal Housing Allowance program that enhances housing security and helps vulnerable residents maintain their rental units.
Grey County Affordable Housing Task Force September report on surplus public land available for housing.
Grey County Housinglaunched its new Short Term Shelter Program effective Sept 21st, 2022. Contact 211 for intake if someone is or at risk of being homeless.
Welcoming Communities Grey Bruce poses 5 questions for candidates and voters to consider. Municipal councils can ensure their local policies and programs do not discriminate against people with diverse backgrounds and can set the tone through welcoming and inclusive policy initiatives.
What is your candidates’ strategy to address housing & homelessness?
Councils play a role in the public messaging on how to show respect and compassion for people who are experiencing homelessness. We encourage you to look up candidates in your municipality and ask about their position on housing & homelessness.
34 Mayoral candidates are running and 4 have been acclaimed. Many candidates are publishing their housing plans as part of their platform. For example, Ottawa Mayoral candidate Catherine McKenney proposes building vibrant, mixed-income neighbourhoods that offer affordable housing in her Plan for Housing Affordability. https://www.mckenney2022.ca/housing
Rebound Owen Sound and NDP party members took action in front of the City Hall of Owen Sound and posed questions to the current council on their housing strategy.
Grey County Life/Rogers TV: we recently spoke with Grey County Life about housing & homelessness as an election issue and the launch of the RentSafe Tenant Survey. Go to the 10 minute mark for the interview. As of Sept 26th, 547 people have completed the survey.
Representation on the Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force
The Poverty Task Force has been coming together for 10 years to collectively address poverty-related issues across Bruce County and Grey County. We have benefited from the leadership and core support of both Counties. We have had many Wardens, Mayors and Councillors actively involved. Recently the City of Owen Sound passed a motion to have a permanent representative to the Poverty Task Force. This is another way for our discussions to be formally reported to the Council and the public.
When complex issues such as homelessness are very visible in our communities, we must work together to reduce the Not-In-My-Backyard approach and look at our local responsibilities. Everyone deserves a safe home and access to services where they choose to live.
ALL CANDIDATE DEBATES
Some debates have already taken place in communities such as Kincardine, Lion’s Head, Meaford and Wiarton but here are more coming up!
Many libraries and other outreach services are offering support to voters:
The SOS Mobile Outreach will be at the Owen Sound Farmers’ Market on Oct 5th, 1-4pm. The City Elections team will be attending to assist people to register to vote.
Owen Sound & North Grey Union Public Library: offers computers to vote online. Staff will take a confidentiality oath to allow them to assist people to vote online.
Simply Voting has released an instructional video for those municipalities voting by phone or online.
A Date of birth is critical to register to vote. If a voter gets a letter with a warning of an incomplete date of birth they will need to contact their election help desk.
When the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic in March 2020, the Tamarack Institute and its members – including the Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force – had been celebrating Canada achieving the lowest level of poverty in the country’s history. However, in 2020 and 2021 many of the successes around poverty and inequality reflected in Canada’s Official Poverty Dashboard have been reversed.
Tamarack Institute’s Communities Ending PovertyImpact Report reports from community stories that income, housing and food insecurity have risen; there is a decrease in physical, mental and emotional well-being; and developmental losses for toddlers 6 years and under are being experienced. With the end of the CERB, emergency savings are depleted and the number of low income individuals and households are increasing.
Children’s Mental Health Ontario reports a disturbing increase in mental health disorders of children and youth through the pandemic. Many are dealing with complex mental health issues beyond anxiety and depression.
Enhanced access to customary care arrangements: the provincial Government is taking action to address the overrepresentation of Indigenous children and youth in the care of children’s aid societies through amendments to Ontario’s Child, Youth and Family Services Act so children and youth can remain closer to home, helping ensure they remain connected to their culture and traditions.
HOUSING SUPPORT
Housing Outcome for Rural and Urban (Off Reserve) Indigenous Peoples: has released a new Research Insight report. The project revealed 4 outcomes, which are described in detail in the Research Insight:
Among Indigenous peoples, perceived general and mental health is better for homeowners. The same holds true for those with affordable and adequate housing.
Indigenous youth living in multigenerational households are less likely to attend school. This is mitigated by homeownership and housing suitability and increased household income.
Homeownership is associated with a greater likelihood of participating in the labour force and having full-time employment.
Indigenous children living in subsidized rentals are most likely to speak an Indigenous language regularly at home. This is followed by children living in market rentals and then by those in owned dwellings.
M’Wikwedong Indigenous Housing Support Program: are seeing on average 95 clients/month.
YMCA Housing: provided 1,048 nights for 141 households housed in February 2022.
Safe N Sound: in 2021, SNS gave out 200+ tents and over 1,000 sleep bags. A reminder that there are laundry facilities at SNS and laundry soap available. Over the next 6 weeks, South East Grey CHC will be carrying out drop-off income tax clinics with guests.
Homelessness Prevention Program: the provincial government is investing an additional $25 million annually to help more people experiencing or at risk of homelessness find the right housing services and other supports. As of April 1, 2022, three existing programs will be combined: Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative, Home for Good, and the Strong Communities Rent Supplement Program. The new investments can be used to fund the operation of supportive housing units created through the province’s $1 billion Social Services Relief Fund (SSRF).
Grey County Housing Task Force: received a report today on progress of new supported housing build and exploring the use of public land for housing.
ADDICTION SUPPORT
Naloxone Kits in the workplace: the provincial government has introduced legislation that will require workplaces that are at risk of a worker opioid overdose to have naloxone kits.
Needle Syringe Program site at Grey Bruce Health Unit (101 17th St E Owen Sound) has reopened. Open 8:30am-4:00pm, Monday to Friday.
FOOD SECURITY SUPPORT
Love You No Matter What tailgate soup kitchen; are now providing meals for up to 80 people each Sunday both downtown Owen Sound as well as at area motels. Since November 2021, they have served about 750 meals.
School food literacy: the provincial government announced food literacy will be mandatory for all Ontario students in grades 1-12 to ensure that students are given opportunities to grow food, prepare food and learn about local foods.
Seniors Community Grant Program the provincial government announced funding of $6 million in 2022-23 for seniors-based projects that help Ontario’s seniors stay safe, healthy, active and connected to families and friends in their communities. Applications are open until April 28, 2022, at Ontario.ca/getfunding for community organizations, municipalities and Indigenous organizations.
TRANSPORTATION SUPPORT
Ontario Good Roads Conference: Bruce and Grey counties will be requesting delegations with the Minister of Infrastructure at the 2022 Ontario Good Roads Conference to talk about the challenges of providing public transportation in rural communities.
The delegation and request to the minister would ask the Ontario Government to investigate and report back on the potential to extend the Community Transportation Program, with the aim of developing a comprehensive Provincial Rural Transit program.
Ad Hoc Transportation Action Group: The Poverty Task Force will be calling an Ad Hoc Transportation Action Group meeting to discuss ongoing issues ranging from challenges with transit routes & accessibility, volunteer drive programs, etc. under COVID19. Contact Jill Umbach if this impacts your work and are interested to join the discussion.
