MPP Gretzky calls for addictions support after province ignores Belleville’s call for action

QUEEN’S PARK – MPP Lisa Gretzky (Windsor West), Official Opposition critic for Mental Health and Addictions, is calling for urgent support in Belleville after the province ignored the mayor’s request for addictions support in the wake of a local emergency:

“In the wake of a devastating series of overdoses, the Mayor of Belleville reached out to this government for urgent support to help prevent any further tragedies,” said Gretzky. “He asked for simple, meaningful solutions to make sure that this never happens again. Incredibly, his calls were ignored by this government.”

On February 8, the Mayor of Belleville declared a local state of emergency after EMS responded to 17 drug overdoses in just over 24 hours.

“Yesterday, the Mayor of Belleville said that if the Province won’t help, they’ll have to find their own way to open a community hub to help people,” said Gretzky. “Why is the Premier leaving the people of Belleville to deal with this crisis themselves, when solutions have been presented clearly to his government?”

“I am calling on the Conservatives to immediately provide funding for this desperately needed service hub and detox centre, and commit to reliable, ongoing support to address the addictions and mental health crisis,” said Gretzky. “There’s no time to waste, we owe it to the people of Belleville and every municipality in this province to have their backs. Lives depend on it.”