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NORTH BAY, Ont. — The Leader of the Green Party of Ontario made a stop in North Bay, Thursday, to introduce its nominee to run as a candidate for Nipissing in the provincial election.
Mike Schreiner says the Ontario Greens are proud to announce North Bay's Sean McClocklin as its nominee and Schreiner is sure McClocklin's experience as a certified addictions counsellor will serve the people of Nipissing well in light of the ongoing crisis.
“I’ve experienced the effects of poverty and marginalization first-hand and seen it in my community,” McClocklin says. “We need to build a more caring and equitable Ontario where everyone has access to the care they need and a safe place to call home. I am motivated now more than ever by the shortcomings of the Ford government to stand up and lead my community.”
Schreiner and McClocklin were joined for the announcement in downtown North Bay by Timiskaming–Cochrane Green Party candidate Kris Rivard. Before moving to West Nipissing, Rivard ran as the candidate for Nipissing in 2018.
The Ontario Green Party's $6.5 billion mental health and addictions plan features a strategy to address opioid addictions and drug poisoning that includes increasing the number of provincially-funded treatment beds and the number of substance treatment sites in Ontario, as well as expanding harm reduction efforts and safe supply.
"We will decriminalize drug use in this province," states Schreiner, "so we treat the substance use as a public health issue, not a criminal justice issue. And, we commit to funding 60,000 housing spaces with wrap-around mental health, addictions, and other supports to help stabilize people's lives."
Schreiner adds drug poisoning has impacted northern Ontario at an increased rate of up to three times that of southern Ontario. He says it is vital this crisis is treated as a public health emergency. "It is disappointing that the Ford government has failed to recognize how tragic this situation is and the steps we need to take to address it."
For instance, Schreiner says he would reverse the recent licence plate validation tag decision by the Ford government and put the $1.1 billion in revenue toward mental health and addictions.
See related: Schreiner to Ford: 'Prison bars don’t keep out the virus'
“Mental health is health,” stresses Schreiner. "There is an addictions and drug poisoning crisis raging and we need more voices like Sean's — who deeply understand the situation first hand — at Queen’s Park."
Schreiner, the party's leader, won the seat in Guelph in 2018, becoming the first-ever Green MPP in Ontario.
"As sad as this situation," with addictions and mental health crises is, "the reality is there is hope. There is hope if we acknowledge the crisis, there is hope if we end the stigma," Schreiner adds. "There is hope if we provide the proper funding for the treatment and services people need in this province."
Besides his work in addictions treatment, McClocklin is billed as an advocate for diversity, social justice, and mental health care, as well as housing and income equity. McClocklin says he has spent hundreds of hours over the last several years volunteering with youth and vulnerable persons. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time outdoors, connected with nature.
"It's a very important issue, to reduce the stigma of the mental health and addictions crisis," says McClocklin. "It may be uncomfortable but something we have to treat head-on, as a public health issue. Here in North Bay and surrounding areas, I speak with many people every day who would love to access these services. Unfortunately, it's not always easy. The waitlists are very long, so I believe in our platform."
