The Ontario government is funding the creation of 37 new addictions treatment beds for the Sioux Lookout area, with reports showing staggering increases in opioid overdose deaths across the province.
The province has announced a $4.2 million investment through the new Addictions Recovery Fund to enhance access to addictions treatment supports through the Sioux Lookout Friendship Accord Economic Development Corporation.
"Funding that supports facilities, programs and services which address mental health and addictions challenges in Sioux Lookout is critically important and welcomed,” says Mayor Doug Lawrance. “This funding can only improve the opportunity for all of us to live with dignity.”
“Investing in mental health and addictions services in Sioux Lookout is just one more way our government is continuing to support vulnerable populations across the province with high-quality mental health and addictions care that addresses their unique needs on their journey to recovery,” says Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.
The corporation says the funding will be used to create 15 addictions treatment beds, 16 supportive treatment beds and 6 withdrawal management beds. The corporation was founded in 2017 between Cat Lake, Lac Seul, Slate Falls, Big Trout Lake First Nations and the Municipality of Sioux Lookout.
"This partnership between the Province of Ontario and The Sioux Lookout Friendship Accord demonstrates the Province’s dedication to the empowerment of Ontario’s Indigenous peoples and giving us the tools we need to build healthy communities,” says Executive Director, Jacob Dockstator.
Ontario says that studies have shown that opioid-related deaths surged by nearly 80 per cent during the COVID-19 pandemic, with rates being three times higher in Northern Ontario.
“Today’s $4.2 million investment for 37 new addictions treatment beds will allow the Sioux Lookout Friendship Accord to continue the critical work that they do as they help hundreds of people from communities across the region,” says Greg Rickford, Minister of Northern Development and Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry and Minister of Indigenous Affairs.
Announced in February 2022, Ontario invested $90 million over three years to expand addictions services and increase the number of treatment beds across the province. The funds aim to build close to 400 new beds, helping to care for roughly 7,000 clients.
Other initiatives include new Youth Wellness Hubs, Mobile Mental Health Clinics, Mobile Crisis Response Teams and additional community supports including treatment and after-care programs.
“Every year, more than one million people in Ontario experience a mental health or addictions challenge,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “That’s why our government is continuing to fulfill our commitment of making mental health and addictions a priority by investing in targeted addictions services.”
The program is also supporting the Kenora Chiefs Advisory with an extra $273,750 to enhance bed-based addictions treatment supports through 2022-2023, and the Rainy River District Ontario Health Team is seeing an additional $394,200 through 2024.
The Ontario government is also investing $2.5 million in Breaking Free Online, a new therapy tool that makes it faster and easier for Ontarians to access safe and effective additions supports.
More mental health, wellness and addictions supports can be found through the Ontario government.