Ontario mayors urge review of addiction treatment laws in 2024
- Mayors from Ontario's largest cities convened in Markham and passed a resolution addressing the addiction and mental health crisis.
- They urged for a review of current mental health regulations and called for enhanced involuntary treatment laws to tackle the opioid crisis, particularly fentanyl addiction.
- The collective action aims to ensure a safer community by seeking government support and relevant legislation to manage public drug use and provide adequate care facilities.
In Canada, specifically Ontario, mayors from major cities convened on October 18, 2024, in Markham to address a pressing addiction and mental health crisis. They passed a resolution urging the provincial government to enhance involuntary treatment laws to better respond to issues like fentanyl addiction, which were not prevalent when the current regulations were formulated. The mayors emphasized the urgency of reforming mental health policies to support their communities more effectively. Josh Morgan, mayor of London and vice chair of the Ontario Big City Mayors (OBCM), remarked that the crisis poses significant challenges for the public safety and economic stability of cities. Additionally, they called for immediate legislative action from both provincial and federal governments to combat illicit drug use in public areas, which has severely impacted community well-being and local businesses. The mayors acknowledged that without updated policies and adequate facilities for addiction treatment, these societal issues would continue to escalate, necessitating a multi-level governmental response to ensure improved public safety and support for vulnerable populations.