Cambridge councillor pulls mobile health care motion before being debated

A Cambridge city councillor abruptly pulled his own motion before it could be discussed — but it was for a pretty good reason.

Scott Hamilton’s motion was intended to rekindle talks between the city, the region and local health care providers about how to ensure the homeless population had access to health services.

It came about after a bylaw prevented a mobile health unit from parking outside The Bridges shelter in Galt. Discussions to find ways to allow the mobile health units to operate on city property hit an impasse. The problem was that homelessness, addiction and health services fall under regional jurisdiction and quite simply, all sides were not communicating.

So, Hamilton tabled the motion in hopes of renewing the discussion. He told The Mike Farwell Show, that it may have worked.

“The spirit of the motion is now happening. We’ve gotten the deadlock broken,” he said. “So, why don’t we just withdraw that motion now, continue those conversations on the side, rather than taking a lot of time and energy to do what is already happening?”

With discussion taking place, Hamilton pulled the motion before it could be debated at council this week.

Hamilton said the motion was also intended to reengage the City of Cambridge in the issue, even though the Region has final say.

“What can the city do better in the future? I think that was the crux of the motion,” he said. “I think the city needs to recognize, yes, we play a roll in this. It’s our streets, it’s our residents. So what can we do to bolster this?” he added.

For it’s part, the Region has commissioned a pair of studies looking at addiction, one from Public Health and one by Regional Police. Those reports will be presented to regional council later this month.