Barrie city officials declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, citing an escalation of violence, open-air drug use and public-health hazards tied to multiple homeless encampments.
Mayor Alex Nuttall said the declaration will allow city staff to enforce encampment protocols more aggressively, bring in outside contractors for cleanup and form a task force to target high-risk sites. The move follows what city officials described as a series of incidents that have increased pressure on residents and businesses, including a recent double homicide and the discovery of hazardous waste and bacterial contamination at a large encampment.
Police have identified 52-year-old Robert Ladouceur as a suspect in the deaths of William Robinson and David Cheesequay, both of whom lived in the same large-scale encampment, authorities said. Ladouceur appeared in court last month and faces 33 criminal charges, including counts of first- and second-degree murder and indignity to a body, Sergeant Brett Carlton told reporters. Robinson was reported missing in January and Cheesequay at the end of July; remains associated with the investigation were recovered at the encampment and at an address in Huntsville.
"These were not random murders," Barrie Police Chief Richard Johnston said, adding that incidents of this kind are "exceedingly rare" but have deeply affected the community.
The encampment was cleared by police last month. City officials said cleanup of the site — which they described as containing hazardous waste — cost the municipality millions of dollars. Environmental testing at a creek that runs through the location found E. coli levels as high as 921 per 100 milliliters of water; public-health guidance cited by city officials puts a safe level for swimming at about 200 per 100 milliliters.
Nuttall said the homelessness and public-safety problems have widened since the COVID-19 pandemic and are driven by a mix of local residents and newcomers living on the street. "There are beds, there are services and there is help on the table. If someone chooses not to take it, they cannot set up camp in our public spaces and put residents at risk," he said, adding that the city will act to "reclaim" parks, streets and other public areas.
Officers said searches of tents in the downtown area yielded drugs and weapons. In one tent, police reported seizing crystal methamphetamine, cocaine, hydromorphone and fentanyl, along with thousands of dollars in cash, crossbows, a flare gun, knives and two axes. Four people were arrested in connection with those operations; a 28-year-old man was charged with multiple counts of possession of schedule I drugs, failing to comply with a probation order and possession of a firearm, while three others were released unconditionally, police said.
Business and community leaders described mounting pressure on the local economy and social services. Paul Markle, chief executive officer of the Barrie Chamber of Commerce, said some businesses have increased security and that additional protective measures have carried significant costs. "Fentanyl and other opiates are running rampant in the area," Markle said.
The Busby Centre, a local nonprofit serving people experiencing homelessness, said the rise in visible tents and encampments reflects "the complexities associated with housing and homelessness challenges across our communities throughout the country." The organization said demand for accessible services continues to grow despite the efforts of staff and community partners.
Under the emergency declaration, city staff will be able to prioritize dismantling encampments deemed high risk, contract outside crews for cleanup and expedite operational responses. Nuttall said the measures are aimed at addressing what he described as prolonged lawlessness and at ensuring public safety for residents and businesses.
Officials emphasized that services are available to those who want help. Nuttall reiterated an ultimatum he has put forward previously: accept the supports offered or face removal from public encampments. "If you want help, it is here. If you do not, then the message is clear. Our residents won’t tolerate encampments any longer," he said.
Police and city staff said they will continue investigations into the killings, coordinate further environmental testing where necessary and move forward with the planned task force. The declaration gives municipal authorities additional administrative tools to address encampments and related hazards while officials pursue both enforcement actions and outreach to people experiencing homelessness.