To The Legislative Assembly of Ontario and Toronto City Council:

WHEREAS the City of Toronto has announced up to 20 new homeless shelters to be built by 2033; AND

WHEREAS Toronto City Council has delegated authority to staff to approve and develop new locations for homeless shelters and respite sites; AND

WHEREAS Proposed shelter sites are close to infrastructure utilized by children and seniors; AND

WHEREAS The undersigned believes that dealing with trauma in a way that can harm children or seniors is not harm reduction, it’s harm production.

WE the undersigned petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and Toronto City Council to utilize any powers they may have, whether by legislation, regulation, motion, by-law, order, or any other applicable method or mechanism, to (i) prohibit the operation of any homeless shelter or respite site within 500 meters (straight line method) of (a) any school, child-care centre, children’s playground, and (b) seniors home, long-term care facility, or assisted living facility.