Most Ontarians feel Doug Ford should do more to deal with homeless encampments, survey finds

The vast majority of Ontarians feel homeless encampments are a “problem” and most believe Premier Doug Ford is not doing enough to deal with them, a new poll suggests.

 

Abacus Data found 54 per cent think tents in municipal parks are a “big problem,” while 30 per cent say they are a “minor problem” and 16 per cent insist they are “not really a problem.”

 

“It is something that signals to people that things aren’t working right,” said Abacus president David Coletto.

 

Indeed, 62 per cent feel Ford isn’t doing enough to help municipalities deal with encampments, while 17 per cent said the premier is doing enough, five per cent said he’s doing “more than enough” and 15 per cent weren’t sure.

 

“This chalks up to a real potential liability for the Progressive Conservatives and for Mr. Ford,” said Coletto.

 

“The public doesn’t get a sense that things are getting better,” he added.

 

But Ford’s Tories, who are considering an early election next year, remain popular with 44 per cent support — well ahead of Bonnie Crombie’s Liberals at 24 per cent, Marit Stiles’ New Democrats at 22 per cent and Mike Schreiner’s Greens at seven per cent.

 

Abacus surveyed 997 Ontarians from Oct. 3 through Thursday using online panels based on the Lucid exchange platform. While opt-in polls cannot be assigned a margin of error, for comparison purposes, a random sample of this size would have one of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

 

The poll was conducted after Ford signalled on Oct. 2 that the province would be taking some unspecified action on homeless tent encampments.

 

“It’s a big problem,” conceded the premier, whose office at the legislature is 400 metres south of a small encampment in city-run Queen’s Park.

 

“We’ve got to find homes for these folks as well, and that’s our goal — all three levels of government. But I’ll tell you, communities across the province, they’re just beside themselves,” he said that day.

 

In Toronto, Dufferin Grove Park, Allen Gardens, Bellevue Square and Clarence Square are among the city parks that are home to large encampments despite concerns from area residents about public safety.

 

Ford’s comments came the week after he had chided tent dwellers to ”get off your a-s-s and start working like everyone else,” which sparked criticism.

 

Abacus found that 80 per cent of respondents think governments should “prioritize providing housing, mental health, and addiction services to help individuals transition out of homelessness and find long-term stability.”

 

Only 20 per cent felt political leaders should “prioritize removing encampments and enforcing laws to address public safety and maintain order in communities.”

 

There appears to be plenty of blame to go around — 63 per cent said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is doing a poor job of handling the encampment crisis with 11 per cent saying he’s doing a good job.

 

Fully 52 per cent felt Ford is doing a poor job on them, with 15 per cent saying he’s doing a good job — while 48 per cent said Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow is doing a poor job on the encampments and 13 per cent saying she’s doing a good job.

 

“The public wants to see a compassionate solution,” said Coletto.

 

“There’s clearly broad support for doing something.”

 

Asked “which level of government is most responsible to deal with homeless encampments,” 43 per cent said Queen’s Park, 32 per cent said Ottawa and 25 per cent said municipalities.

Abacus also polled on Ford’s proposals for dealing with traffic gridlock in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.

 

While 67 per cent were aware of the premier’s scheme to tunnel under Highway 401 from Mississauga to Scarborough — with 33 per cent unaware — 47 per cent said it was a bad idea while 35 per cent said it was a good idea and 18 per cent didn’t know.

 

On the other hand, 39 per cent would like the province to buy back the long-term private lease on Highway 407 with 18 per cent opposing that and 21 per cent unsure.

“It demonstrates to that core base of supporters that he’s listening to them because they are clearly telling him that traffic is a problem,” said Coletto, noting respondents are divided on what can reasonably be done.

 

The premier’s Sept. 25 tunnel idea could be a cornerstone pledge in a PC re-election campaign early next year.

 

Given Ford’s current standing in the polls, Coletto said the Tories’ plan for a vote one year early makes sense.

 

“There’s no obvious headwind that’s having an effect on holding his voting coalition together,” the pollster said.

 

“The federal Liberal brand is not helping Bonnie Crombie,” he said, referring to the persistent low polling of the Trudeau Liberals.

 

“And Marit Stiles just isn’t breaking through.”

 

 

 

 

This article was first reported by The Star