Oshawa mayor 'disappointed' Ontario budget left out addictions, mental health emergency ward for city

Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter has called on Premier Doug Ford to fund a mental health and addictions emergency ward at the city's Lakeridge Health hospital, saying he was disappointed it was left out of Ontario budget after telling the premier about the urgent need for the project.

Carter, who said he is a recovering drug and alcohol addict, said the city does not have the resources or capacity to meet people's needs. 

"I know as an addict… if you say, 'I got a bed for you, we're going to help you, I'm going to get you medicated,' I'm all in," Carter said Friday. 

"If you tell me to come back Tuesday because I'll have a bed and medication then, you'll never see me again." 

The city is asking Ontario for $40 million to fund the project, according to a news release Friday. Carter said he first met with Ford 15 months ago at the premier's house to discuss the proposal, and reiterated the importance of the project with local MPPs and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones at Queen's Park two weeks ago. 

"We've made our case the best possible way we can. All we need is the allocation of funds and unfortunately I was disappointed," Carter said at a news conference on Friday. 

The mayor addressed Ford directly during the conference, saying the ward will save lives by connecting people with the care they need at the right time. 

"What happens is many of the patients end up walking out and we miss that opportunity to get them the proper care," he said. 

"It has to be a system that cares for individuals from the time that they're [vital signs absent] on the street all the way through to recovery."

As part of the 2025 budget, Ontario is increasing funding for community-based mental health and addictions services across the province by 4 per cent, Ministry of Health spokesperson Ema Popovic said in an email on Friday. 

The funding "is a clear signal that support isn't just coming, it's already here," she said. 

She said the province announced funding in August to support the redevelopment of Lakeridge Health by adding 300 beds across the hospital network, which also has locations in Bowmanville, Whitby, Ajax-Pickering and Port Perry.

Carter said he supports the province's Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs, which provide access to recovery and treatment systems for people struggling with addictions and mental health issues. 

The government is spending $550 million to create a total of 28 HART hubs across the province, including two in Oshawa, according to a news release from March. Oshawa is one of the only cities to receive multiple hubs, Popovic said.