The MPP for Windsor-Tecumseh is asking the province to declare the opioid crisis an emergency.
Percy Hatfield is accusing Premier Doug Ford of ignoring the growing tragedy of overdose deaths by refusing to declare an opioid public health emergency.
Hatfield stood up in question period on Thursday following the death last week of Windsor teenager Josh Chouinard, and the news that there were 13 overdoses in 72 hours in Peterborough.
“They held a funeral on Monday in Windsor for 17-year-old Josh Chouinard, who tragically died last week from a drug overdose,” Hatfield said in the Legislature. “With the permission of Josh’s family, those who attended the funeral were given a naloxone kit."
Windsor-Essex County Health Unit statistics showed that last year, Windsor saw 150 trips to the emergency room as a result of overdoses. There were 22 emergency room trips due to overdoses in January alone, which is three times more than the previous year, and the health unit predicts these numbers will only get worse.
Hatfield said it is crucial that the Ford government declare an official opioid crisis, and work with communities and agencies to reduce drug overdose deaths in Ontario.
“How many more lives have to be lost before the Ford government decides to do the right thing and tackle the opioid crisis head on?” Hatfield asked.