Sarnia's mayor was assured by Ontario's health minister Monday that the next step in the approval of a local withdrawal management centre will come very soon.
Mayor Mike Bradley was among ten mayors invited to Toronto by Minister Eric Hoskins to discuss the opioid crisis. He told the minister the approval process for detox facilities has to change with Sarnia's project in the works for over 16 years.
"I was given very clear indications and I was told exactly what the next step is," says Bradley. "I cannot hurt the LHIN [Local Health Integration Network] and the medical officer of health by revealing what that next step is, but I think you'll see that unfold very, very soon."
Once provincial funding is approved, the sensitive issue of site selection will be addressed.
The proposed $10-million centre would provide ten residential, six stabilization and eight observation beds, addictions counselling and day treatment.
Mayor Bradley says Monday's meeting, which included the mayors of Toronto and Ottawa, was very productive.
He says over 2,500 people died from opiate abuse nationally last year.
