Wawa-news.com You can't hear the 'big picture'!
Official Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath says Doug Ford’s decision to halt the opening of planned overdose prevention sites flies in the face of all advice from experts, community members, and volunteers, and risks the lives of Ontarians struggling with addiction.
“Late on Friday, the government ordered a halt to previously approved overdose prevention sites. The Premier is interfering with local health care experts and front line workers, who have been crystal clear: these sites save lives,” said Horwath.
Doctor David Juurlink, the head of clinical pharmacology and toxicology at the University of Toronto, has said: “These places save lives, connect people to addiction care, reduce the spread of HIV and hepatitis C, and save the health system money. We need more of these sites, not fewer.”
New Democrats have worked with community members and medical experts to support the development and expansion of overdose prevent sites, as an opioid addiction crisis sweeps through communities across the province. Ford’s Conservatives have slashed millions of dollars in funding earmarked for addiction and mental health services, leaving Ontarians struggling to access the services they urgently need.
“People can’t get treatment if they are dead,” said Horwath.
“Why is the Premier putting lives at risk? How much more evidence does the Premier need, and how many people will he let die until he is satisfied?”
- Auditor General will investigate Ford’s $1-billion write-off to Hwy 407 company - April 7, 2022
- Horwath’s NDP plans to staff up Northern health care to shorten wait times - March 15, 2022
- Horwath calls on the government to re-start surgeries - January 27, 2022