NDP questions Ford’s inaction as opioid deaths in Sault Ste. Marie rise to become the highest in Ontario

QUEEN’S PARK – Ontario NDP health critic France Gélinas (Nickel Belt), sounded the alarm about skyrocketing opioid deaths in Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma district. MPP Gélinas reminded the Ford government of their failure to fund lifesaving consumption and treatment sites in Northern Ontario.

“Opioid deaths are sky high in Northern Ontario,” said Gélinas, “Thunder Bay and Timmins will soon lose their consumption and treatment sites. In Sudbury, where the Ford government refused to fund the local consumption and treatment site, overdose deaths continue to rise.”

“Every single day, seven Ontarians die from the opioid epidemic. This crisis is unfolding under the Ford government’s watch. People are dying under this government’s watch. It is time to do the right thing and start valuing the lives and health of SSM and Algoma residents”

Background:

• SooToday.com recently reported that the Mayor of Sault Ste. Marie, Matthew Shoemaker, believes the lack of a consumption and treatment site is the reason deaths continue to climb in his city.
• The Ford government put a moratorium on new consumption and treatment sites in August of 2023 and will close 10 sites across Ontario by 2025.