Sault addictions group wants funding for overdose crisis, not downtown plaza
A group of community advocates plan to gather outside Sault Ste. Marie city hall to demand action on the continuing overdose crisis in the city.
They are specifically taking issue with the city's plans for a new downtown plaza.
While they are aware municipalities do not have jurisdiction over healthcare, members of Addictions and Mental Health Advocates said they want city council to secure more money from the province to deal with the overdose crisis -- rather than the downtown plaza.
"We have seen so much about this big plaza that our city fathers are trying to raise money for, and we think it's time that they advocate for our city's issues with addiction and mental health," said group founder Donna DeSimon. "We're on the frontlines all the time. We are seeing so many deaths."
DeSimon said many of the community members they serve are feeling left out on account of the plaza development.
However, Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Christian Provenzano said the city continues to fight for funding to solve the overdose problem.
"One doesn't take away from the other," said Provenzano. "Us doing the plaza project does not diminish the effort we're putting into trying to get more resources in our community to deal with the mental health and addiction crisis. I understand why people might perceive it that way, it's just not actually the case."
However, Provenzano said he feels some measure of responsibility for not securing more healthcare dollars.
"I take personal responsibility for the fact that as a municipality, we have not been able to get the funds we need to provide the care our community needs," he said. "I own that. I'm partly responsible for that. And I'll continue to work until the end of my term to do that."
The provincial government has committed $3.8 billion over 10 years to address gaps in addiction services. DeSimon said action is needed now.
"We don't have 10 years," she said. "We're wiping out a generation already. The 21 to 44 ... we're wiping it out. There goes our future ... Sad to say."
DeSimon said other grassroots organizations will be joining Addictions and Mental Health Advocates at city hall Oct. 25, with the demonstration set to begin before city council meets that afternoon.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.