As work to address the local opioid crisis moves ahead, the City of Timmins is hiring a full-time co-ordinator to help lead the activities for the Community Safety and Well-being Plan and support the local drug strategy group.
At its last meeting, Timmins council approved $1,028,731 for a temporary safe injection site — called an Urgent Public Health Needs Site (UPHNS) — while a permanent solution goes through the approval process.
That resolution also included a municipal position, an ongoing cost in addition to the UPHNS funding. There was no report breaking down the position or cost of the new position attached to the resolution that council approved.
After last week's meeting, CAO Dave Landers said details of the position would be part of the upcoming 2022 budget discussions.
The full-time position for a community strategies co-ordinator was posted this week. The salary range is $76,185 to $91,437 per year.
"At the council meeting, I was directed to work with the medical leadership on the cost and plan. I thought that there would be a longer runway on this. Turns out the goal is to be operational as early as January, not leaving much time to move forward with recruiting. They have been in regular discussions with the Associate Minister who encouraged haste should we hope for funding in the New Year," explained Landers in an email.
"For that reason, I had to move up what I thought was the timeline and got approval for the position at the last council meeting."
The co-ordinator will report to the CAO and lead activities for the Community Safety and Well-being Plan, and provide governance and partnership support to committees and working groups of the Timmins and Area Drug Strategy (TADS) steering committee, according to the job posting.
The UPHNS funding is in response to an update on the opioid crisis from the local medical community last month.
The sites are a safe place for people to use their drugs, obtain medical care and connect with social service and treatment programs. Timmins and District Hospital (TADH) is the operator and the goal is to have the temporary site running by early winter. TADH posted a job this week for a safe health site manager, who would be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the UPHNS.
The UPHNS is a temporary solution and would bridge the gap while TADS works toward a supervised consumption site, which could take two to three years to work through the approvals.
While the permanent site has a funding stream, the UPHNS does not.
Premier Doug Ford and an entourage of cabinet ministers, including Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Michael Tibollo, toured the Timmins hospital this week.
At that time Tibollo said their presence is proof that the government is looking for a solution for polysubtance and alcohol-related issues.
While Ford said he supports the city's decision to fund the consumption site, he believes in rehabilitation.
"Making sure they have a place to go when they call out for help and that’s what I want to focus on,” said Ford on Monday.
During the visit, Tibollo also met with Dr. Julie Samson and Dr. Louisa Marion-Bellemare, who are leading the local efforts on addressing the opioid crisis.
Tibollo said they are "absolute rockstars" and noted this week's meeting is the second time they've met in 60 days.
In 2020, 40 people died of opioid-related overdoses in the Porcupine Health Unit region. In 2019, there were 22.
The overdose death rates in the first quarter were higher than 2020.
