Priority: Mental health, addictions
Sault Ste. Marie mayoral candidate Donna Hilsinger says that concrete, coordinated action on mental health and addiction will be her first priority if she is elected.
“It’s almost impossible to overstate the magnitude of the crisis in Sault Ste. Marie,” said Hilsinger, noting that the death rate in the city due to opioid use is more than double the rate across Ontario, and the hospitalization rate for addictions and mental illness is three times the provincial average.
“We are far beyond the point where we need to focus on raising awareness,” she said. “Everyone knows that we have a crisis on our hands. We need ongoing, concerted, coordinated action, on the ground, in the community, every single day. And as Mayor, I will make it my first priority to initiate that action on day one on multiple fronts.”
“The City needs to work with affected communities and with its Indigenous partners to build a coordinated approach that addresses health concerns and arrives at community-based strategies on issues like supportive housing,”she added.
Hilsinger pointed out that Sault Ste. Marie can learn from the experience of other Northern Ontario communities.
“In places like Timmins and Sioux Lookout, unique treatment strategies and innovative housing initiatives are changing people’s lives and, in many cases, saving people’s lives,” she said. “We need to understand what works and why, and use that information to establish a set of best practices for our own community.”
Hilsinger also said that immediate action is needed to increase options for treatment locally.
“The planned residential withdrawal facility is an important start, but there is still no plan for a treatment centre in the Sault, and there are no resources for a safe consumption site. Given the magnitude of the crisis, these shortcomings are simply unacceptable.
“That’s why my very first action as Mayor will be to write to the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Premier, and our local MPP, and demand that the province provide the necessary assistance and cut the red tape to ensure that we are able to create proper treatment and safe consumption facilities in Sault Ste. Marie,” said Hilsinger.
That correspondence, she said, would be made public so that the community can hold her – and the province – accountable.
“I will not relent until we see real movement and tangible results in our community,” concluded Hilsinger.