Some argue that Nickel Belt- Greater Sudbury is facing two simultaneous epidemics. One being COVID-19, a major health crisis, and the other is a growing set of barriers faced by vulnerable populations.

According to local support agencies and experts, challenges related to housing, the cost of living, mental health and substance abuse are on the rise in Nickel Belt – Greater Sudbury. These challenges are thought to be exacerbated by the pandemic and due to long-standing gaps already existing from chronic lack of resources.

Recognizing the urgency and magnitude of these challenges, the Federal government recently appointed the first Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, the Honourable Carolyn Bennett. She will help drive priorities such as:

• Establishing a new $4.5 billion over 5 years, federal transfer to provinces and territories—the Canada Mental Health Transfer—to help expand the delivery of high-quality, accessible, and free mental health services
• Executing a comprehensive review of access to the Disability Tax Credit, CPP-Disability and other federal benefits and programs to ensure they are available to people experiencing mental health challenges
• More assistance to address the complex realities faced by vulnerable populations

This builds upon key actions already taken to mitigate challenges including:

• $500 million in support during the pandemic for Canadians experiencing mental health challenges, homelessness, or substance use.
• $598 million for a distinctions-based mental health and wellness strategy for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit, including for the Indian Residential Schools Health Supports Program and Crisis Line
• More than $600 million to address the opioid crisis, including $182 million for the Substance and Addictions Program
• Created Canada’s National Housing Strategy, which aims to invest over $72 billion over 10 years to build supply, making housing affordable, and address chronic homelessness

“It is heart breaking to see the depth of suffering here in Nickel Belt – Greater Sudbury. Recent statistics suggest that 398 individuals are experiencing homelessness locally, with 165 living in encampments right here in our back yard. This doesn’t however account for the many individuals at risk,” said Serré. “I’m grateful of the local housing investments already made such as the $7.4 million announced in July 2021, for 28 units in Greater Sudbury and the $18 million announced for 55 senior’s units in Coniston. However, this is just a beginning and the need for more action remains. We must find innovative ways to support at risk individuals and more proportionately impacted groups such as Indigenous populations, the LGBTQ2S+ community, those with disabilities and more,” added MP Serré.

MP Serré commends the recent letter penned by Greater Sudbury mayor Brian Bigger to Premier Ford in which he paints the difficulties faced by our region and the need for immediate attention. The letter highlights the priorities set out by council and the funding requested to mitigate the issues. 

Their requests for $2.4 million annually for supportive housing, $1.3 million for a supervised consumption site and support through Ontario Emergency Funding is deemed proactive and applauded by Serré.

“Over the last two years our city’s vulnerable population has grown exponentially, mostly due to an influx of out-of-town vulnerable people. We are a compassionate city! Yet we have limited resources to deal with the influx. This is not only our City’s issue, but It is a province wide and nationwide issue! For that reason, I believe we need to take a compassionate and collaborative approach between all levels of government to find and fund resources to ensure there is more opportunity for our vulnerable population to access the services and safe housing that is desperately needed,” said councilor for Ward 7 Mike Jakubo.

“Councilor Jakubo is right- all levels of governments must be at the table to help drive a solution. The Federal government’s role is to support provinces and municipalities in their approach. We are at the table and I hope my provincial counterparts will do the same. Locally, I also hope to see wholehearted support from our MPPs,” said Serré.

Helen Francis, CEO of the Northeastern YMCA, further clarified the lived realities of her organization’s navigation through changing circumstances. “Our YMCA seeks to build strong resilient communities and support all community members. The YMCA of Northeastern Ontario has seen firsthand an increasing number of our most vulnerable living with mental health challenges, substance use disorders are unhoused and sleeping in unsafe environments due to a lack of housing services and supports. The need is urgent – as we see inadequate solutions that leave encampments in our downtown core, that are not safe for those who reside there and are equally detrimental for other community members who live and work in the vicinity,” said Francis.

“For example, the proximity of the encampment in Sudbury’s Memorial Park has led to the need to relocate our YMCA Child Care Centre, at least temporarily, and we hear from members and other users of the YMCA Centre for Life that they are reluctant to return due to real and perceived concerns related to their Health and Safety (e.g. erratic behavior of those using substances, needlestick debris etc.). This challenge is complex and requires a collaborative approach from service agencies and specifically all levels - of government, Municipal, Provincial and Federal; and this work is needed now. Our YMCA is ready and willing to work together on solutions,” she added.

“I’ll be working closely with Minister Bennett, along with the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion and at the grassroots level with Greater Sudbury Police Service’s Chief Pedersen, Chief Medical Officer of Health and CEO of Public Health Sudbury & District, Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, and other local organizations to ensure Nickel Belt – Greater Sudbury’s needs are addressed. These issues are complex and finding a solution will not be a one step process especially in rural areas. The support and crisis organizations in our communities are stretched thin, there is evidence of staff burn out as they have been relentless helping our most vulnerable over the last 18 months. Thank you so much to all volunteers, staff and those on the frontline. We greatly appreciate your fierce advocacy for change, and I remain in your corner,” concluded MP Serré.

Media Contact
Kaylie Dudgeon,
Special Assistant Marc G. Serré, MP Nickel Belt
[email protected]