16 new supportive treatment beds will connect people with addictions challenges to the care they need close to home

NationTalk: SIOUX LOOKOUT — The Ontario government, in partnership with the Sioux Lookout Friendship Accord and Kenora District Services Board, has opened 16 new supportive treatment beds in Sioux Lookout to connect people and families in the region facing mental health and addictions challenges with faster and easier access to high-quality care closer to home.

“Our government is continuing to build a better connected and patient-centred mental health and addictions system that meets the needs of Ontario patients and families, no matter where they live,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Funding for these new beds will help ensure residents can connect to the care they need close to home.”

Through the Addictions Recovery Fund, the province has invested over $4 million to bring addictions treatment beds and services to hundreds of people living in Sioux Lookout and surrounding areas. In addition to the 16 new supportive treatment beds that are now available, this funding will also support 15 new addiction treatment beds and six withdrawal management beds which will open by the end of 2023.

“We are making it possible for people to get more timely, convenient care by expanding access to recovery-oriented mental health and addictions care in Northern Ontario,” said Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “These 16 new supportive treatment beds in Sioux Lookout are one more way our government is lowering barriers for people in rural and Indigenous communities across Northwest Ontario to connect to the support they need. Our focus is, and always will be, ensuring that help is available where and when it is needed.”

The Ontario government released the Roadmap to Wellness, its community service-focused, “ground-up” mental health and addictions plan in 2020. Since then, the province has added additional investments and innovative new programs to improve mental health and addictions services for communities across Ontario. With initiatives like this one in Sioux Lookout, the Ontario government is making sure individuals of all ages, all across the province, can connect to the mental health and addictions services and support they need, when they need it.

Quick Facts

• Funding for these new beds flows directly to the Sioux Lookout Friendship Accord Economic Development Corporation, which acts as a critical access point to care for the area’s First Nations communities and the local municipality.
• The Sioux Lookout Friendship Accord was founded in 2017 and is an agreement between Cat Lake First Nation, Lac Seul First Nation, Slate Falls First Nation, Kichenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation and the Municipality of Sioux Lookout.
• In February 2022, the Ontario government introduced the Addictions Recovery Fund, a one-time investment of $90 million over three years to boost the capacity of addictions services for children, youth and adults across the province. This investment is supporting the opening of over 380 new addictions treatment beds across Ontario, helping to stabilize and provide care for approximately 7,000 clients per year.
• The Addictions Recovery Fund complements, but is separate from, investments made within the Roadmap to Wellness, Ontario’s plan to build a more connected, client-centred high-quality mental health and addictions system. Since launching the plan, the government has flowed $525 million in new base funding for mental health services and supports under the Roadmap.

Quotes

“This funding is critical in our effort to address the ongoing challenges of addictions and mental health. We are very appreciative of Minister Tibollo’s commitment and support.”
– Douglas Lawrance
Mayor, Municipality of Sioux Lookout

“Today marks a historic day, and I want to thank Minister Tibollo and the Province of Ontario for making this important and unique investment. The community of Sioux Lookout will benefit greatly from these 37 new withdrawal and supportive treatment beds. The program will help and support vulnerable people by ensuring there is a continuous model of care between health and housing. I want to thank the Sioux Lookout Friendship Accord for their tireless work and effort in helping to make this project a reality.”
– Henry Wall
Chief Administrative Officer, Kenora District Services Board

Additional Resources

• Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care
• Roadmap to wellness: a plan to build Ontario’s mental health and addictions system
• Ontario Expanding Addictions Services in Sioux Lookout
• Ontario Launches New Addictions Recovery Fund
• Mental Health and Addictions Programs and Resources
• Find out how you can access mental health support

Media Contacts

Hannah Jensen
Minister Jones’ Office
Hannah.R.Jensen@ontario.ca

Anna Miller
Communications Division
media.moh@ontario.ca
416-314-6197