During his recent stop in the area, Premier Doug Ford was asked to address what impact the province’s investment of up to $25M in water infrastructure in Cobourg might have on Northumberland’s affordable housing waitlist.
The government announced that the funding, which is part of the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund, would support the construction of 2,266 new homes in Cobourg.
When asked by Gonorthumberland.ca about the effect on the over 1,000 people waitlisted for affordable housing in Northumberland County, Ford had this to say.
“You know what the best way to get people … out of the encampments? To get out of the homeless? Get an application and drop it off at one of these companies and start working,” said Ford.
While acknowledging that those who are unwell would be supported, Ford said healthy individuals to find work.
He also said his government would challenge a Waterloo court ruling allowing homeless encampments on Crown land, stating, “You can’t have people setting up encampments in beautiful neighbourhoods, you just can’t do it. It destroys the neighbourhoods.”
Ford didn’t however address how the investment in water infrastructure might play a role in affordable housing in Northumberland.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
