Barrie seeks provincial funding for new addiction treatment hub
Barrie city councillors hope to secure funding for a new Homelessness and Addiction Response Treatment (HART) hub to support individuals struggling on the streets.
This initiative comes after previous efforts to establish a safe consumption site were stalled earlier this year when the provincial government changed its approach, which ultimately led to the application being pulled.
In August, the province announced its push for HART hubs, pledging $378 million to set up 19 such centres across Ontario, and the City wants a piece.
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox
According to Mayor Alex Nuttall, the County of Simcoe is leading the charge on the application process, with support from the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre and the Canadian Mental Health Association.
The Barrie mayor, a longtime supporter of this type of treatment model, believes the HART hubs would offer long-term support for those struggling with addiction.
"As you look forward over the past seven or eight years, and you see the results of what's happened with the lack of rehabilitative and treatment services, with the lack of capacity for individuals who are suffering these mental health and addictions diseases, it shows us that it's gotten out of control.
We probably should have taken a more comprehensive tack to begin with, which is to invest in treatment, to invest in rehabilitation, to invest in somebody's long-term health," Nuttall said.
Councillors endorsed the County's application for a HART hub at Wednesday evening's meeting.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada's response to Trump deportation plan a key focus of revived cabinet committee
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's promise to launch a mass deportation of millions of undocumented people has the Canadian government looking at its own border.
Who should lead the Liberals? 'None of the above,' poll finds
As questions loom over Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s leadership, a new Nanos Research poll commissioned for CTV News says a quarter of Canadians say none of the potential candidates appeal to them.
New technology solves mystery of late First World War soldier's flower sent home to Canada
In 1916, Harold Wrong plucked a flower from the fields of Somme, France and tucked it into a letter he mailed home to Toronto. For decades, the type of flower sent remained a mystery.
U.S. election maps: How did 2024 compare to 2020 and 2016?
Though two states have yet to be officially called, the U.S. election map has mostly been settled. How does it compare with the previous two elections?
Canada rent report: What landlords are asking tenants to pay
Average asking rents declined nationally on a year-over-year basis for the first time in more than three years in October, said a report out Thursday.
N.S. school 'deeply sorry' for asking service members not to wear uniforms at Remembrance Day ceremony
An elementary school in the Halifax area has backed away from a request that service members not wear uniforms to the school's Remembrance Day ceremony.
Remembrance Day: What's open and closed in Canada?
While banks and post offices will be closed nationwide on Remembrance Day, shops and businesses could be open depending on where you live in Canada.
Judicial recount for Surrey-Guildford confirms B.C. NDP's majority
The B.C. New Democrats have a majority government of 47 seats after a judicial recount in the riding of Surrey-Guildford gave the party's candidate 22 more votes than the provincial Conservatives.
48,584 space heaters recalled in Canada after burn injury in U.S.
Health Canada has announced a recall for electric space heaters over potential fire and burn risks, a notice published Thursday reads.