The Kenora District faces numerous systemic barriers when dealing with homelessness, addictions, housing and mental health services.
That’s the message being delivered by local leaders following a meeting with the Chief Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission.
Renu Mandhane was in Dryden last week to sit down with members of the Kenora District Services Board.
It was arranged as part of the fallout from the temporary closure of the Kenora Homeless Shelter but was aimed at addressing a wide range of concerns.
Mandhane says it’s very clear from the meeting that municipalities feel under-resourced and don’t have the support of both levels of government to meet some of the unique challenges.
“The remote geography. The fact that they provide services to remote First Nations communities who often are arriving in their cities because of issues with the criminal justice system, the health system, mental health/addictions.”
Mandhane stresses they are in the process of gathering information and determining how they can assist local municipalities.
Mandhane says she’s trying to understand whether some of the systemic issues are discriminatory and is pledging to work with communities and First Nations.
She notes the main mandate of the Commission focuses on discrimination.
Area leaders and KDSB staff talked about a broken system compared to the Greater Toronto Area.
Officials state municipalities are also absorbing the costs that should be a federal and provincial responsibility.
