From The Mayor's Desk

Doug Lawrance - Mayor of Sioux Lookout

Mental Health and Addictions Epidemic

The annual Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference was held in Ottawa in August.  As reported in The Sioux Lookout Bulletin, CAO Brian MacKinnon and I attended on behalf of the Municipality.  Our delegations and advocacy were also covered in the newspaper article.  In addition to the information in the article, I would like to pass on our observation about the high level of concern that was evident throughout the Conference related to mental health, addictions, homelessness, and public dignity and safety. This concern is shared by municipalities of all sizes and geographic locations.
The Conference included sessions and panels on community safety and well-being, strengthening public health, ending homelessness, municipalities and the opioid epidemic, and housing in Ontario.  Outside the confines of the conference halls, it was evident in the downtown area of Ottawa, an area bustling with tourists and the activity of a nation’s capital, that homelessness, addictions, and loss of public dignity and safety, are problems that should be considered epidemic.
In community spaces in Sioux Lookout this challenge is often experienced and encountered as intoxication, drug use, litter, discarded needles, vagrancy, vandalism, and worse.  There is an overall feeling of loss of dignity and safety. As a Municipality we continue to do what we can to address this pervasive social challenge which impacts so many in our community and region. Some of our current areas of focus for include:
•    Ongoing collaboration with local and regional social service providers to try to ensure the programming and services that are offered address not only the immediate individual challenges, but also the root causes of conditions, behaviours, and activities.
•    Negotiations and discussions with the Provincial Government regarding the LCBO – including store location, the implementation of the controlled access pilot project, and days/hours of operation.
•    Discussions with the Northwestern Health Unit regarding harm reduction measures such as the needle exchange program.
•    In partnership with the Rapid Access Addictions Medicine Clinic (RAAM), the Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre, and the Northwestern Health Unit, deployment of additional, larger-capacity needle disposal containers.
•    Lobbying the Provincial and Federal governments to fulfill their obligations to  provide appropriate funding, programs, supports, and services to address the issues: the Municipality cannot be expected to provide the type and level of services required to effectively address these issues without the Provincial and Federal governments doing their part (in Ottawa at the AMO Conference we had meetings with various Ministers, outlining the justification and overwhelming need for their support).
•    Meeting with regional First Nation communities and leaders to identify opportunities to better support their community members who are in Sioux Lookout and struggling with addictions, homelessness, mental health issues, and related challenges.
•    Working with partners to apply for recently announced Provincial HART Hubs – these hubs are being funded by the Provincial Government to address Homelessness, Addictions, Recovery, and Treatment.
•    Continuing to raise Provincial awareness, especially with the Ministry of the Solicitor General, of Sioux Lookout’s unique position and circumstance as a hub for northern First Nations.
Sioux Lookout is a relatively remote and small urban centre in the midst of a huge geography.  That geography encompasses several Treaty areas, including that of Grand Council Treaty 3, and the Nishnawbe Aski Nation.  Both Grand Council Treaty 3 and Nishnawbe Aski Nation have declared states of emergency related to a crisis of mental health and addictions.  The Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority (SLFNHA) recently declared a mental health and addictions crisis in the area served by SLFNHA.  The impacts of these crises are magnified in a small town such as Sioux Lookout. 
As we have said before, the Municipality cannot solve these issues. We can and do respond as we are able.  We continue to advocate and inform the levels of government who have the authority and the mandate to take meaningful action.  And we will continue to engage and work with willing and able partners to do all that we can to improve the situation for all.