New Democrats support calls for Wynne government to declare emergency to deal with opioid overdose crisis

France Gélinas, the Ontario NDP’s health critic, issued the following statement in support of 700 doctors, nurses, and frontline harm reduction workers from 59 communities across Ontario who are calling on Premier Kathleen Wynne to declare an emergency amidst the opioid overdose crisis.

“New Democrats support doctors, nurses and frontline harm reduction workers from across the province who are calling on Premier Wynne to declare an emergency so they can help stem the opioid crisis that has claimed too many lives in Ontario.

The need for action is urgent and any further delays by the Wynne government are simply unacceptable. To start to address the scale of this public health crisis, Premier Wynne must do the right thing today and support the call from frontline health care workers who are struggling without the resources they need.

New Democrats support a declaration of emergency to allow health care workers to develop urgent responses to the crisis, increase funding for harm reduction work, allow for the local supports that communities need to save lives, and send a crucial message that every life matters in Ontario.”