Every day, families and communities across the country lose loved ones to overdoses from the increasingly toxic drug supply.  We are responding to this crisis by taking a comprehensive, collaborative, compassionate and evidence-based approach to increase access to a continuum of services to promote well-being and resilience, to reduce stigma and harms, and save lives.

 Today, Viviane Lapointe, Member of Parliament for Sudbury, on behalf of the Honourable Ya’ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, announced more than $237,000 for Réseau ACCESS Network’s Wellness Navigation Program through Health Canada’s Substance Use and Addictions Program. This funding is in addition to the more than $500,000 that the organization received from the Government of Canada in 2022 and will allow the organization to increase access to services for people who use drugs while reducing stigma through connecting with new and existing programs in the region of Sudbury and across Canada.

The Government of Canada will continue to work with all levels of government, partners, Indigenous communities, stakeholders, people with lived and living experience, and organizations across the country to improve health outcomes for all Canadians, save lives, and work towards an end to this national public health crisis. Budget 2023 invested $359.2 million over 5 years to support a renewed Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy. This builds on the more than $800 million invested since 2017 to address the overdose crisis.

Budget 2023 also delivers an urgent, needed investment of almost $200 billion over the next 10 years to strengthen our public health care system and help ensure Canadians receive the care they need. This includes $25 billion for shared health priorities, including increasing access to mental health and substance use services and supports. These significant federal investments will support access to a full continuum of evidence-based options as well as innovative strategies, including harm reduction, treatment and recovery, for people who use drugs as well as supporting law enforcement.

Quotes

“Our hearts go out to all the family members, friends, colleagues, and neighbours that live with the tragic loss of a loved one to overdose. We need to continue to work together to urgently address the toxic drug and overdose crisis and reduce the harms associated with substance use. This investment through SUAP will help Réseau ACCESS Network continue their work to help reduce stigma and build better capacity for peer-to-peer connection. By supporting initiatives like this one, we can save lives, improve capacity for healthcare providers in Ontario and across Canada, and build a better healthcare system that actively serves the needs of people in the community of Sudbury.” - The Honourable Ya’ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health

“Our government is committed to addressing the overdose crisis and keeping people who use drugs safer. The Réseau ACCESS Network project will build capacity and enhance community treatment of substance use for people living in Sudbury. The program is integral to our comprehensive and evidence-based approach to saving lives. Together, we will help improve health outcomes for people living in Sudbury, help prevent overdose, and help build much-needed capacity for healthcare providers in Ontario and across the country.”- Viviane Lapointe, Member of Parliament for Sudbury

“Substance use remains a critical concern in regions like Nickel Belt. The Government of Canada is continually finding ways to reduce harm and stigma by supporting organizations like Réseau ACCESS Network in their mission to create safer and healthier communities. Together we can promote wellness and save lives.”– Marc G. Serré, MP for Nickel Belt and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Official Languages