QUEEN’S PARK – Question period was disrupted by a member of the gallery slamming the provincial government’s decision to close safe consumption sites on Tuesday afternoon at Queen’s Park.
Sol Mamakwa, MPP for Kiiwetinoong and NDP critic for Indigenous and treaty relations, had asked the province to respond to Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg First Nation declaring a state of emergency that morning citing a policing and mental health crisis.
“The First Nation is experiencing increased violent crime, drug trafficking by gangs, addiction, overdoses and sex trafficking, but the lack of police presence and the delays in emergency response has created a crisis,” said Mamakwa.
Solicitor General Michael Kerzner replied, stating “when the federal government comes to the table and antes up more money to do the right thing, Ontario will do it as well.”
Mamakwa said the minister cannot use jurisdiction as an excuse to walk away from the issue.
“What actions will this government take to ensure to finally provide the First Nation with the same level of support, security and access to services as communities in Ontario?” he asked.
Associate minister of mental health and addictions Michael Tibollo began to answer that the government has taken mental health and addictions seriously when an unknown member of the gallery began to shout saying they first accepted harm reduction services when they were 25 years old.
“Those are now being scrapped by this government,” the person said. “I work at a safe consumption site . . . we save lives.”
“There is blood on your hands,” the person can be heard shouting.
Tibollo later said the province is taking the issue very seriously.
“We have developed a roadmap to wellness; we’re making substantial investments,” he said, adding their focus has been to build a treatment and recovery model to ensure people get help when and where they need it.”
