St. Catharines – The overdose crisis is one of the most serious public health crises our country has ever faced. It is driven by a dangerous illegal synthetic drug supply that is unpredictable and increasingly toxic. Too many Canadians have lost their lives to this public health crisis. Canada’s approach is focused on providing access to a full continuum of health care services and leveraging every tool at our disposal to save lives, connect people to care, and keep communities safe.
Today, Chris Bittle, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, on behalf of Ya’ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, announced $3.5 million to Regional Essential Access to Connected Healthcare (REACH) Niagara for their project Transitions Into Comprehensive Care (TICC). This project is funded through Health Canada’s Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP).
TICC, will create a collaborative network with community partners in the Niagara region to offer comprehensive care and wraparound services, such as counselling, housing, and employment support to individuals who are transitioning from corrections facilities to a community setting. The program is open to people housed in the Niagara Detention Centre and the Vanier Centre for Women, unhoused individuals currently using the shelter system, those recently released, and people with a history of incarceration or who are at high risk of reincarceration. We will continue to support community partners and organizations working to save lives.
“We recognize the tragic toll substance use is taking on families, friends and communities across Canada. Our comprehensive and compassionate approach is about reducing harms and saving lives. We are supporting community organizations that have deep roots in their communities, have the trust of their clients and have the first-hand knowledge needed to make a real difference in people’s lives. We are using every tool at our disposal to end this crisis and build a safer, healthier and more caring future for all Canadians. – Ya’ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health