WONG-TAM: Stigma will not make communities safer. Support will.

TORONTO - Ontario NDP MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam (Toronto Centre) joined healthcare professionals, frontline workers, and faith leaders to call on Ford to reverse course on the closure of Consumption and Treatment Services Sites and work with healthcare professionals to address the impact of this crisis on the Toronto Centre community.

“Anyone can be impacted by addictions,” said Wong-Tam. “People deserve the support they need to live safely, and a government that relies on evidence and empathy to make life-and-death policy decisions. We are seeing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in our community in Toronto Centre and across Ontario, a spike in homelessness, the opioid epidemic - people are dying on our streets. Doug Ford’s decision to take away services, at a time when people need it the most, will have devastating impacts.

"Doug Ford and his politicians have cynically twisted this crisis to stigmatize those who are suffering, instead of seeing it for what it is: a crisis that deserves urgent investment, compassion, and a plan that focuses on support.

“Stigma will not make communities safer. Support will. What keeps our communities safe is making sure nobody is losing their life to overdoses on our streets and in our neighbourhoods – and that everyone has a safe place to call home.”

ADDITIONAL QUOTE:

“As a family doctor in Toronto’s downtown east, I strongly oppose the government's reckless decision to close Consumption & Treatment Services across the province. We are in the midst of a devastating toxic drug crisis that claims a life every 2.5 hours in Ontario. These aren't just numbers – they're our family, friends, colleagues, and patients,” said Dr. Samantha Green, a family physician in Toronto Centre.