People without family doctors in the Matheson, Iroquois Falls and Cochrane area are lighting up social media as the mayor of Cochrane and the CEO of the area’s hospital board skirmish over why there’s a shortage in the area.

Police forces in northeastern Ontario say they are not rushing to use new powers given to them under the province’s Safer Municipalities Act to clear out homeless encampments and tackle open drug use on public property.

It started off as a disagreement between new owners and residents over what is private and what is public property, but it’s now escalated into a full-blown court case involving the local township, surveyors and a nonprofit organization.

More than two months after they were supposed to open, Homeless and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) hubs in northeastern Ontario are still waiting for final approvals from the province to start operating.