Calling the opioid addiction and mental health crisis in North Bay a "major issue" mayoral candidate Gary Gardiner today promised to make finding a solution a top priority of his administration.
"It requires an immediate, comprehensive, but concentrated response," Gardiner said in a news release."With the proper leadership and resources, North Bay has a proven track record of solving its problems. As an example, the patch-for-patch program was conceptualized here by dedicated individuals and then enacted into provincial law by MPP Vic Fedeli.
"This matter has been studied in detail. Now it’s time for bold action. I further commit to chairing a Mayor’s Task Force of expert stakeholders with the mandate of identifying and implementing strategies that will produce measurable, immediate results, improving the lives of individuals and families affected and the overall safety of our City."
Gardiner also targeted the increasing demand on medical services caused by an aging population, something he calls overlooked.
"EMS at times is an overlooked service that responds to various types of medical emergencies that has a substantial impact on the quality of life and safety for the citizens of North Bay. The service here in North Bay is second to none consisting of highly skilled, highly trained Paramedics. Unfortunately, in North Bay, with looming pressures and challenges produced by aging population and the current mental health and addiction crisis this vital service is currently underfunded. Without increasing the local tax burden, we desperately need to recognize these issues and fight for increased funding in order to protect our seniors, deliver an effective service and deal with immediate challenges within our great community.
Gardiner also wants EMS to play an active role in preventative medicine with programs such as Community Paramedicine.
"This program can have a positive effect on seniors within our community by improving the quality of life, reducing patient issues concerning chronic health issues through education and treatment and collaborating with the family physician and care teams to ensure optimal care for our seniors and all residents in North Bay. In turn, this will reduce 911 calls, emergency department visits, and reduce hospital admission. This, of course, saves money and effectively reduces the strain on emergency rooms and wait times keeping seniors at home.
