TORONTO — Ontario Premier Doug Ford says legislation his government is introducing today to help municipalities clear homeless encampments out of public parks will include stronger trespass laws and fines or jail time for illegal drug use in public.

He says families should be able to enjoy parks and people facing homelessness or addiction and mental-health challenges should be supported in the right settings, so the province is putting an additional $75 million toward homelessness prevention programs.

The bill set to be introduced later today is expected to strengthen penalties for people who repeatedly break trespass laws, adding “continuous trespassing” as an aggravating factor the courts would consider during sentencing.

The legislation will also allow police and provincial offences officers to ticket or arrest people using illegal drugs in public, with penalties of up to $10,000 or six months in jail.

The government says it is considering allowing the courts to provide rehabilitation as an alternative to incarceration for minor or non-violent drug crimes, and Ford says he is not considering involuntary treatment at this time.

It is unclear when these measures would take effect, as the Ontario legislature is set to rise today for its winter break.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 12, 2024.

Allison Jones, The Canadian Press