EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bill enacts the Homelessness Task Force Act, 2024. The Act requires the Minister to establish a Homelessness Task Force comprised of members, appointed by the Minister, from specified groups. Subsection 2 (3) of the Act sets out the mandate of the Homelessness Task Force, including supporting the Government of Ontario in the creation, maintenance, renewing and modernizing of a provincial homelessness strategy. Section 3 of the Act requires the Homelessness Task Force to provide recommendations for matters to be included in that strategy. Section 4 of the Act requires the Homelessness Task Force to prepare an annual report setting out their recommendations and provide it to the Minister. The Act also requires the Minister to inform the Assembly of the Homelessness Task Force’s recommendations that the Minister recommends the Government of Ontario implement.

Bill 204 2024

An Act to establish the Homelessness Task Force

His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Definition

1 In this Act,

“Minister” means the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing or such other member of the Executive Council to whom responsibility for the administration of this Act may be assigned or transferred under the Executive Council Act.

Homelessness Task Force

2 (1)  Within 60 days after this section comes into force, the Minister shall establish a Homelessness Task Force.

Composition

(2)  Members of the Homelessness Task Force shall be appointed by the Minister from the following groups:

   1.  Housing and homelessness advocates.

   2.  Social service and healthcare workers.

   3.  Legal and justice workers.

   4.  Persons who have experienced homelessness.

   5.  Such other groups as the Minister considers appropriate.

Mandate

(3)  The Homelessness Task Force shall meet at least once every three months to facilitate their mandate of,

  (a)  supporting the Government of Ontario in the creation, maintenance, renewing and modernizing of a provincial homelessness strategy;

  (b)  facilitating collaboration between the relevant stakeholders and policy-makers, including the Government of Ontario, municipalities and members of the private sector; and

  (c)  supporting the development of strategies for enumeration to ensure increased accuracy in homelessness data.

Recommendations

3 (1)  The Homelessness Task Force shall provide the Minister with recommendations regarding the following matters for inclusion in the provincial homelessness strategy referred to in clause 2 (3) (a):

   1.  Policies and programs aimed at mitigating the impacts of homelessness and ensuring that every person in Ontario has access to housing.

   2.  Timelines for implementing the recommendations.

   3.  Processes to determine whether the recommendations will be achieved and whether the timelines will be met.

   4.  Mechanisms for monitoring, evaluating and updating the strategy and for addressing any missed timelines.

Same

(2)  The Homelessness Task Force shall ensure that its recommendations respecting the provincial homelessness strategy are equity-oriented and comply with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Annual report

4 (1)  The Homelessness Task Force shall prepare an annual report setting out the recommendations referred to in subsection 3 (1) and shall provide the report to the Minister.

Publication

(2)  The Minister shall publish the annual report on a website of the Government of Ontario.

Implementation of recommendations

5 Within 60 days of receiving an annual report from the Homelessness Task Force, the Minister shall inform the Assembly of the recommendations of the Homelessness Task Force that the Minister recommends the Government of Ontario implement.

Commencement

6 This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short title

7 The short title of this Act is the Homelessness Task Force Act, 2024.