PelhamToday received the following letter from reader Roman (Steven) Soos:
Who likes to hear the words..."almost unanimous!?" For years all I have wanted is for Niagara Region's 13 municipalities to unite in acknowledging, taking action on and challenging the province to do more for the emergency-crisis on mental health, housing affordability and addiction.
Despite all the victories, it's the one brass ring that I am struggling to grab! A cruel irony. It's the sad look that you get when your team tells you "nice try" after you just struck out on the mound. For me, 11/12 of Niagara's local area municipalities requesting Niagara Region declare a state of emergency on mental health, homelessness and addiction wasn't good enough.
If this is truly to be it. If this is truly the mental health, housing affordability and addiction movement we've all been waiting for and desperately need; then I need all 13 Niagara area municipalities behind me as I take this movement directly to Queen's Park!
So this time, 10/13, 11/13, 12/13- just will not due it for me! Everyone is affected in some way shape or form by these issues- even when you don't think they affect you- they do. These issues are municipal, they are provincial, they're federal and they're global. Which means that it is everyone's responsibility to tackle the societal ills of mental health, addiction and poverty- nobody is absolved- not one City, not one Town, not one province, territory etc.
My feeling is that we will achieve a united Niagara on the emergency-crisis issue and a comprehensive review of the Ontario emergency management and civil protection act. After all, a 34-year old piece of legislation that has remained largely unchanged for about 20 years, should not be our only tool to tackle the issues of mental health, poverty, addiction, homelessness etc. These issues are evolving and it is our responsibility as a society to evolve with them.
If you were to ask me if I am hopeful that I will gain the support of 13/13 of Niagara's municipalities, I would respond- extremely hopeful..
So with that being said- here are some very important updates on the emergency-crisis for mental health, housing affordability and addiction:
- West Lincoln Town Council will be considering Town of Lincoln's motion for a comprehensive review of the Ontario emergency management and civil protection act at their next Council meeting.
- Niagara on the Lake Town Council has asked for a staff report on the emergency-crisis for mental health, housing affordability and addiction.
- A funding proposal is being submitted to Ontario Health for the Indigenous mobile mental health crisis unit pilot project for Niagara Region. Jennifer Dockstader, Executive Director for the Fort Erie Native Friendship and I had a very productive meeting with the Ontario Indigenous Affairs ministry and Ontario Health and we hope to see implementation of the unit inching closer to reality. This would be a large investment for mental health in Niagara Region if the Ontario government chooses to move forward with the project.
Last week, I also submitted a letter to Ontario Premier, Doug Ford with the following questions:
1. Will you declare a mental health, homelessness (housing affordability) and addiction emergency in Ontario? And/or does Ontario acknowledge these issues as a state of crisis because in my opinion...they are both.
2. Would your government consider Niagara Region and Town of Lincoln's ask for a comprehensive review on the Ontario emergency management and civil protection act?
3. Will your government be building more drug treatment centers in Niagara Region and if so, when can we expect to see that unveiled if that is the case?
4. Would your government support an expansion of mental health crisis services in Niagara Region? (I do want to thank your Indigenous Affairs ministry and Ontario Health on this front Premier as they have met with me and are collaborating with me on an Indigenous mobile mental health crisis unit pilot project for Niagara) and I ask Premier, would a project of this nature be something you also would support implementing for our Region?
5. Is there additional funding coming to Niagara Region on the emergency-crises for mental health and addiction? (we received a financial response for homelessness of 20.8 million- so I also ask on the mental health and addiction front as well....
So now, there is only one question left to ask...Niagara Region, are you with me?
Roman (Steven) Soos
Welland
