How northwestern Ontario election candidates plan to tackle homelessness and addictions crises
Thunder Bay residents call for swift action as homeless rates, overdose deaths rise
With hundreds of people experiencing homelessness and opioid-related death rates that far exceed provincial averages, there's a lot at stake in the provincial election for residents in northwestern Ontario.
At least 550 people are experiencing homelessness in Thunder Bay, according to the latest point-in-time count conducted in the fall. Further west, 500 people are known to be homeless in the Kenora District Services Board's catchment area.
Homelessness in northern Ontario has grown four times faster than in non-northern communities in the last eight years, and new research suggests the region's rates could more than quadruple over the next decade, as reported by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.
As for the opioid crisis, the Thunder Bay district has the highest opioid-related death rate in the province, according to the latest information from the Office of the Chief Coroner.
At a rate of 78.16 deaths per 100,000 population, that's more than five times the provincial average of 15.7 deaths per 100,000 population.
CBC News asked all the candidates in northwestern Ontario how they plan to address homelessness and the opioid crisis in the ridings of Thunder Bay—Superior North, Thunder Bay—Atikokan, Kenora–Rainy River and Kiiwetinoong.
Responses were received from 12 of the 16 candidates by deadline. Click through the photo gallery to read a synopsis of each of their responses.
CBC News interviewed three residents in Thunder Bay with differing views to learn more about what they want to see their next MPPs do to address these issues. Here's what they shared.
Removing encampments, ramping up treatment
Aldo Ruberto says he's used naloxone to reverse the effects of opioid overdoses around his office countless times. The chair of the Fort William Business Improvement Area says homeless encampments and public drug use have had a negative impact on local businesses.
He says he wants to see the removal of encampments, the elimination of public drug use and stricter consequences for drug dealers through the courts.
"Our city's talking about [how] we want to grow our city, et cetera. Well, before you do that, let's address the elephant in the room here," Ruberto said. "Let's clean up the city and let's help these individuals, but we can't allow that behaviour to continue."
He feels hopeful about the new Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) hub set to open in the city this spring. The hub will essentially replace Path 525 in Thunder Bay, the only remaining supervised consumption site in northern Ontario, which is set to close at the end of March.
While HART hubs will not allow supervised drug consumption, safer supply, or needle exchange programs, they're intended to provide wraparound support — meaning care that meets clients' needs for housing, health care and other social supports — as well as primary care, counselling and employment training.
"I believe the hub is going to be a good thing in a sense that it's more treatment-oriented," said Ruberto. "I hope that it leads to recovery for a lot of individuals."
Consistent funding, harm reduction approach
Bonnie Aggamway sees the issues through the lens of lived experience. The substance use health co-ordinator for the Elizabeth Fry Society of Northwestern Ontario is more than three years into recovery from addiction.
She says consistent, reliable funding for organizations that are working on the front lines of the crisis is essential.
"Because they didn't give up on me and those programs stayed in place, I was able to get where I am," Aggamway said. "I think that's a huge testament to what's possible … when you keep funding the right programs and keep those things running."
Aggamway fears that the closure of Path 525 — which she says helped keep her alive — could have a devastating impact on people who use drugs. She wants the next provincial government to bring back supervised consumption services because she says abstinence-based models don't work for everyone.
Because they didn't give up on me and those programs stayed in place, I was able to get where I am.- Bonnie Aggamway, substance use health co-ordinator, Elizabeth Fry Society of Northwestern Ontario
"Not everyone is going to do things the way that the government thinks that they need to do them," she said. "We don't force people to do things or to make change if they're not ready."
She also wants to see more transitional housing, detox and treatment beds and wraparound services, she said.
"Support the people that are doing the work. Trust us, we know what we're doing."
Post-treatment services, continued support
Carolyn Karle's work is motivated by the loss of her daughter, Dayna, to an accidental overdose in 2021. She founded the DEK Foundation — which stands for Dayna Elizabeth Karle — in hopes of opening a post-treatment recovery home for women.
After Dayna completed addiction treatment, Karle said, there were few supports in place to help her maintain her recovery.
"I swear they're set up to fail," said Karle. "Wraparound services. That's what they need to continue on. They can't forget us."
She compared the situation to when her husband had cancer and received follow-up appointments for years after he went into remission.
"They kept checking him and checking him and checking him," she said. "Our cancer centre is something to brag about. Our addiction support, we should be ashamed of ourselves."
Karle said she wants to see Thunder Bay's next MPPs bring more detox, treatment and post-treatment services. As for housing, she said outreach work at the city's encampments must continue.
When it comes to the HART hub, Karle said she's cautiously optimistic, but worries about whether current Path 525 clients will feel comfortable going there.
"In a perfect world, yes, we can make everybody quit using drugs, but I don't think it's possible. I think the street people that grew up in poverty and have so much trauma, they must feel like they're getting dumped," she said of Path 525's closure.
Ontario's four major party leaders will participate in a live studio debate in North Bay on Feb. 17 from 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. ET, focused entirely on northern Ontario issues.
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