Sarnia's Mayor was stonewalled by Lambton county councillors when seeking further information on a specific homeless encampment issue on Wednesday.
Mike Bradley asked for a report -- on behalf of city council -- to detail whether, or not, Lambton Public Health and the County of Lambton's social services division would support sanitation services at Rainbow Park or any other encampment.
St. Clair Township Mayor Jeff Agar said providing washrooms is not part of the county's mandate.
"I know we have to supply shelter, which we do," said Agar. "I'm not in favour of putting in washrooms and we have staff that work 24/7 hours at the shelters and I commend them on what they do. I don't know, I just think it would prolong more if we put restrooms in the park. So, I am against it."
Brooke Alvinston Mayor David Ferguson said he was "dead against" it.
"I think it's been explained multiple times that there [are shelter] spaces available within Lambton for the people who wish to go there," said Ferguson. "We can't make them. It is a City of Sarnia park, that is not our mandate to supply sanitation into somebody else's park. This is a Sarnia problem, in a Sarnia park. We're supplying the house/the home already for them, and the spaces that are available have been reiterated multiple times."
Bradley responded to the comments calling the situation a "human health crisis."
"The county has been mandated, not just to deal with housing, but the homeless," Bradley said. "You just announced $10 million dollars that you've spent over the last number of years. But, that's not the motion. Read the motion. It's a fair motion because it's not saying 'do it', it's asking where the county and the social service agencies and other agencies stand on having this type of step taken."
Bradley said he felt the motion, which was just looking for input, was being misunderstood.
His request for a response, and that it be expedited prior to Sarnia council's July 8 regular meeting, was denied.
