Northern mayors join call for a centralized Ontario ministry to look at key social issues

As more than 2,000 delegates from across Ontario gather in Ottawa to talk about shared municipal issues, topics like mental health and addiction, and homelessness are front and centre.They are key issues for more than 400 communities represented at theannual meeting of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.

And northern Ontario mayors are bringing their voices to the discussion.

Sault Ste. Marie MayorMatthew Shoemaker says it's a huge and urgent crisis on various levels.

"You know Sault Ste. Marie has had the highest rate of opioid deaths over the last quarter in Ontario," Shoemaker said.

"So this is a health crisis, a social crisis, and it dissuades people from wanting to be out and about in our city. But the real moral reason why it needs to be addressed...is because people are dying."

Last week, Shoemaker and other mayors from northern Ontario's five largest cities joined their counterparts in
southern Ontario in a call for more provincial help on this issue.

They are suggesting the creation of a new centralized ministry to co-ordinate all support funding and programs.

North Bay's Mayor Peter Chirico agrees, saying he believes there is enough funding in the system, but with so many agencies and support programs, it may notbe efficiently reaching the people in need.

"There's funding provided by so many different ministries that are entwinedwithin that funding," he said.

"Whether it's health, whether it's social services, you know, Even the MTOhas issues with homelessness and encampments.There are a lot of people out there that we are failing as a society to provide them withsupport. And so I like the concept of a centralized ministry, for municipalities to access and with some streamlining that can be taking place."

Homelessness and addiction are everyday issues

Chirico says theissue of encampments, homelessness, and mental health and addiction problems are being faced by hiscity every day, and by his colleagues in the north.

"We act as sort of a service centre because many of the smaller communitiesoutside of our jurisdiction or funding or taxation do not have the services that people need," he said.

"So unfortunately, they are migrating to our cities. Is it fair that our taxpayers have to take on that burden?I don'tthink so. That's why we need more help from the province."

Chirico says the government has to make sure it is spending its money wisely, and he thinks the proposedidea of a centralized Ministry could be the answer.

"We have to be sure the services that are being provided are targeting andhitting the mark, and making sure that we address the issues that we have as a society right now," he said.

"We need to do this. We are in crisis right now."