THUNDER BAY – The opioid crisis in Ontario’s First Nations communities needs a new approach, says NDP leader Andrea Horwath.
And the solution has to be made jointly with Indigenous leaders, she said on Friday during a campaign-style stop in Thunder Bay, less than a week ahead the expected dropping of the writ signaling the official start of the four-week provincial election campaign.
“Anything we do is going to have to be working closely with First Nations leadership in the communities. I don’t believe it’s appropriate for me as NDP leader and premier to say this is how we’re going to fix things in your community,” Horwath said to a packed house at In Common on the city’s north side.
“That’s extremely disrespectful. But being at a table and saying what can we do to fulfill the vision you have on how to help your people to get rid of the opioids, not only the addictions, but the access – how the drugs are coming into the community – that’s the kind of go-forward that I would expect.”
It can’t be the province coming up with an idea and trying to sell it to First Nations leaders.
“That’s something where I think the government has gone wrong so far,” she said.
Horwath’s answers were met with more questions from Fort William First Nation Chief Peter Collins, who wants it to start at the top of the distribution change.
“In B.C. the NDP filed a lawsuit against pharmaceutical (companies), for putting such a highly addictive drug on the market. What are you going to do if you become premier of Ontario? How will you deal with that? How will you deal with the over-prescribing of that highly addictive drug?” Collins asked.
Horwath responded she was disappointed to see how Ontario handled the oxycontin epidemic, calling the deal that was struck irresponsible.
“Unfortunately the Liberal government has already cut a deal, but I’m not beyond having a look at whether that deal needs to be reviewed,” she said. “It’s unacceptable that companies, international drug companies, make profits off the pain and anguish and destruction of people’s lives.
“It is not acceptable and no dollar amount will ever make up for it, but let’s at least hit them where it hurts, for them, because all they care about is the money.”
The NDP leader was in town to unveil her Northern Ontario platform, which includes a $19-billion injection into new health-care facilities, bringing winter road maintenance and Hydro One back into public hands while lowering energy costs 30 per cent, a regulated gasoline market and a promise to spent $1 billion to bring the Ring of Fire to reality.
Horwath also promised to keep northern schools open and improve relations with Indigenous people while ensuring their communities have safe drinking water and top-notch education.
Fixing the broken health-care system topped her remarks.
“How many times has this hospital in Thunder Bay been in gridlock. It’s still in a gridlock situation. And it’s not new. It’s been years that this hospital has been dealing with gridlock. And it’s not fair,” Horwath said, flanked by Thunder Bay-Atikokan candidate Judith Monteith-Farrell and Thunder Bay-Superior North hopeful Lise Vaugeios.
The provincial election is June 7.
Follow Leith Dunick on Twitter: @LeithDunick
