Province cancels deal with Canadore College for North Bay addiction treatment centre

After years of delays, the province has pulled the plug on an addiction treatment centre in North Bay.

A news release from Canadore College on Thursday confirmed the centre won’t be moving forward.

Construction continues at the future site of the Northern Ontario Addiction Treatment Centre of Excellence, located at the former Farquhar Chrysler Dealership on Lakeshore Drive. But it’s at a snail’s pace. (Eric Taschner/CTV News Northern Ontario)

"Canadore College will be discontinuing the Northern Ontario Addiction Treatment Centre of Excellence project," the release said.

"We have been advised by Ontario Health that funding for the project has been terminated. All activities will be wound down early in the new year."

First announced in early 2022, the facility was supposed to have 24 addiction treatment beds, nine withdrawal services beds and 20 supportive treatment beds.

It was to open in summer 2022 at a cost of almost $7 million, employing 20 health-care professionals and offer placements and teaching clinics for students. Canadore was to train the facility’s first staff members.

The opening was delayed until summer 2023, then January 2024 and then in the spring. Now the project has been cancelled.

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"The genesis of the Addiction Treatment Centre and Canadore’s involvement was the opportunity to act as a model site in the province to demonstrate a new approach to addiction treatment which encompassed a wholistic approach, and to be designated as the training site for treatment centres across northern Ontario," Canadore said Thursday.

"While we’re disappointed by Ontario Health’s decision, we take solace in the fact that the 53 treatment beds will remain in the Nipissing region."

Province 'lost confidence' in Canadore

In an email Thursday evening, the province said the centre was cancelled because it had "lost confidence" in Canadore.

"Ontario Health lost confidence in Canadore’s ability to meet the operational and clinical requirements needed to open the 53 addiction recovery beds," the email said.

"Over the last two years, Ontario Health worked with Canadore College, providing them with considerable opportunity to get this project up and running. Canadore was unable to address clinical and operational requirements."

Ontario Health has launched a targeted expression of interest to health service providers in the region, who have the clinical expertise and operational capability to get this project done, the message said.

"This will ensure the 53 addiction recovery beds initially allocated to the Canadore College project will remain in Nipissing District, connecting people to the care and support they need, in their community for years to come."

Canadore said it won't be commenting further.