In a week that began with the public questioning of the plan to switch local addiction treatment providers and models, North Bay’s mayor says a report on the subject will soon be made public.
See original story: Many questions surround ‘shocking’ closure of local addiction treatment beds
Ontario Health Coalition Executive Director Natalie Mehra was joined by Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU/CUPE) President Michael Hurley and France Gélinas, the opposition NDP’s health critic in North Bay Monday.
All objected to the closure of the addiction treatment beds administered at the King Street facility by the North Bay Regional Health Centre, as well as the loss of jobs. Mehra wondered when the report detailing the rationale behind the switch to a community-based model would be made public.
North Bay Mayor Al McDonald says he is “encouraged by the interest about the services required to serve our citizens who experience homelessness and drug-related issues in our community. This is something that is important to all of us.”
The roundtable group plans to build a Transitional Housing and Crisis Stabilization Centre, slated to open this summer. Partners in the project include the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board, North Bay Mental Health and Housing Services, and the Crisis Centre and various other community entities.
“Representatives from 29 community organizations, who live and work in North Bay and area, came together to put forward an actionable, community-based plan,” said McDonald.
“As this work is led by and impacts all 29 contributing organizations, we feel it is important that the details of the report are shared in a public forum, together with all stakeholders, where we can continue this important dialogue.”
The Mayor took issue with the findings of the health care “outsiders,” taking to Facebook to respond to the criticism.
“I didn’t hear from the health critic 8 months ago when there was a crisis, when we stated publically a roundtable was being put together, when the recommendations were presented to the public, when we went to ROMA to present the findings to the government…What is concerning is suddenly, I am reading in the media this group is calling us into question and using disparaging remarks to attack our community groups and stakeholders. All we did was try to find solutions,” posted McDonald.
As far as the unveiling of the Mayor’s Roundtable Report, McDonald said, “We are currently working on coordinating a date for the public release of the report so that all of the partners can be present to speak about their role in transforming mental health and addictions access and care in our community.”
