By Rosalind Russell – MP Jim Bélanger is calling on both the provincial and federal governments to provide stronger support for Northern Ontario communities struggling with addiction and mental health challenges.
In a letter to Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones and Ontario’s Solicitor General Michael Kerzner, Bélanger expressed support for the Greater Sudbury Police Service Board’s call to examine legislation that would allow involuntary addiction treatment in specific circumstances for individuals suffering from severe addiction and unable to make decisions in their own best interests.
He says last year, the Greater Sudbury Police Service Board declared a toxic drug crisis epidemic following 134 suspected drug toxicity deaths in the Sudbury and Manitoulin districts, with Northern Ontario’s drug toxicity death rate remaining nearly three times the provincial average.
Too many families are losing loved ones to addiction, and the status quo is not working, he says, so we need more treatment options, stronger recovery supports, and a willingness to examine every available tool that could help save lives.
Bélanger also emphasizes greater support from both Queen’s Park and Ottawa, adding that when Ottawa can commit billions of dollars to major projects like high-speed rail between Toronto and Quebec City, Northern communities have every right to expect stronger investments in addressing addiction and mental health.
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