Northern Ontario mayors call for help to deal with opioid, addictions crisis
It’s a collective cry for help across the north, with the five large urban mayors all calling for help to deal with opioid overdoses and addictions.
“We have got to grab this crisis by the neck right now,” said Timmins Mayor George Pirie. “It’s that urgent, because people are dying on our streets.”
The opioid and addictions crisis wasn’t the only topic on the agenda for the virtual Northern Ontario Large Urban Mayors Meeting on Tuesday, but it's one everyone agrees needs to be addressed immediately.
“We need immediate help specifically designed for northern Ontario,” said Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Christian Provenzano. “We need additional funds for northern Ontario so that our communities can start to work through the very significant challenges we have. Those are conversations that have to be had.”
The mayors said it’s just too big of a problem for municipalities to tackle on their own.
“This is bigger than the municipality, I think it’s even bigger than the provincial and federal government. I think society has to come together to find solutions,” said North Bay Mayor Al McDonald.
“I can tell you, it’s really out of my league. I’ve learned so much over the last couple of years on opioids and homelessness and I continue to learn more, but we really need the experts to come in and assist us.”
Greater Sudbury Mayor, Brian Bigger said collectively, the mayors are asking for help.
“What we’re expecting to do here is reach out to the provincial government, as well as the federal government, looking for additional supports because the help and support can’t come quick enough,” Bigger said.
“It is impacting our communities and the people living in our communities in so many ways. We feel that there is a great urgency here.”
McDonald said there are two main requests.
“One is a meeting with the prime minister and the premier, because they both need to be at the table," he said. "The second piece is a national strategy on the opioid crisis."
Other topics the mayors discussed included several financial issues, and the housing and homelessness situation were also discussed.
Officials said that all of these challenges are interrelated, but agree the opioid epidemic and addiction crisis is the most pressing.
“It’s clear when you look at the data year over year that the problem isn’t getting better so we’re not being successful,” said Provenzano. “We need help. We need help from the province. We need help from the feds.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.