Downtown business owners in North Bay share concerns ahead of provincial election
Gateway to the Arts has been located on North Bay's Main Street in the city's downtown for just more than two years. Owner Kerrie Emms told CTV News homelessness and addiction issues in the city are her biggest concerns this election campaign.
"Mostly it's the issue of homelessness and opioid crisis," said Emms.
"It's an issue that's everywhere, however we seem to be lacking in what we're doing about the issue."
Other business owners in the city's downtown said they feel the same way.
"We need more affordable housing," said Pauline Brown, owner of Brown's Antiques and Collectables.
"Having affordable housing and more mental health facilities, what that will do is place a lot of people that are here on the streets into places and into homes … So if we did that, we would then clean up the streets of downtown North Bay."
John Lechlitner has owned Cecil's Brewhouse and Kitchen for more than 30 years. He agrees homelessness is an issue he sees outside his restaurant.
"We need proper housing for these people," Lechlitner said.
"We know the old system of just locking them up or putting them in psych hospitals didn't work, but obviously the solution has now become a problem, too."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.