City of Oshawa denies CAMP permit renewal request at Mid-Town Mall – again

The last chance for the Community Assisted Meal Program to extend its permit at Mid-Town Mall to provide food to-go to the homeless was snuffed out at the Community Services Committee meeting Tuesday.

Supporters of the CAMP program were in the council chambers and six delegates pled their case to renew the licence for the trailer but their pleas were ignored, with the vote losing by a 4-2 margin.

The motion to extend the permit lost by a 6-5 margin last month with Mayor Dan Carter casting the deciding vote. In order to get the occupancy permit request back on the table required a two-thirds majority, or four votes, explained Councillor Rick Kerr, who chairs the Community Services Committee.

“With a sixth wave of COVID here, I do not believe this is the time to be removing a needed food service to those of our citizens who require assistance – and it is not just the homeless. Sixty-five per cent of the people who visit CAMP for assistance are either on ODSP or are financially affected by COVID.”

Kerr and Councillor John Neal were the only committee members to vote in favour of renewing the permit. Carter and Councillors Derek Giberson, Bradley Marks and John Gray voted against.