Sudbury MP Viviane Lapointe says Ontario not spending federal public safety dollars

Sudbury's Liberal MP, Viviane Lapointe, is calling on the Ford government at Queen's Park to direct public safety funding it received from Ottawa to communities across Ontario, including her city.

Lapointe noted the federal government has given the province $1.6 billion to improve public safety in Ontario.

"Increasingly, constituents are raising concerns with me about public safety," Lapointe said in a news release.

"Even  though crime rates are down in our city, the perception of decline in public safety is real. This is  an all-hands-on-deck issue, and every level of government must work together to address this growing concern."  

Lapointe said she met with Greater Sudbury Police Service Chief Sara Cunningham, who told her 84 per cent of their calls for service aren't criminal in nature.

The chief says they are related to social disorder stemming from mental health, addictions, and homelessness.  

Lapointe said Sudbury needs a dedicated space and appropriate health care services for people who need immediate intervention when they are a risk to themselves or others. 

She says that would also help free up police resources for other things.

In an email to CBC News, Chelsea McGee, a spokesperson for Ontario's Office of the Solicitor General, said the province has been making several investments related to public safety and addressing homelessness and addiction.

"Since 2019, we have invested $525 million in addiction treatment services and support," McGee said.

That includes 551 new addiction treatment beds across Ontario, with nearly half of them located in northern Ontario including, in Sudbury. 

McGee said the provincial government is also investing $378 million to create 19 new Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs.

The hubs would provide drug treatment and recovery services, but would not include harm reduction services, such as supervised consumption.

With regards to addressing crime, McGee said the province has granted Sudbury $940,000 for bail compliance and warrant apprehension to help prevent repeat and violent offenders from committing crimes while out of bail.