Calgary to Develop Community Strategy on Mental Health and Addiction

The Council Municipal has agreed to spend $ 25 million over the next five years to combat social disorder – an increase in opioid crisis-driven crime – by improving mental health and addictions supports.

An amended motion presented by Mayor Naheed Nenshi, with funding from the city's Fiscal Stability Fund. $ 15 million is earmarked for the community services prevention investment framework, with $ 10 million for funding crime prevention and mental health initiatives.

The council also asked the administration to develop guidelines by October. and to prepare a report and a work plan, including recommendations on initial policy directions, for a facilitated strategic session. This meeting is expected to take place in early 2019 and involve experts and stakeholders.

"I think what we have done here is really an affirmation that it is important, that we believe in it, that we do not want Nenshi told the council

" We can let ourselves be dragged into the policy of who should do what, or what should happen here, but. . . we lost more people than last year due to an overdose of fentanyl that we lost due to violent crime and collisions.

"We are in a crisis and we are sending a very important message to Calgarians. we are ready to act, "said Council Druh Farrell, one of the councilors who sponsored the motion

The amended motion was pbaded, with councilors Sean Chu, Jyoti Gondek and Peter Demong opposed.

Nenshi said after the debate that he is pleased with the results of the talks, which began Monday night, continued on Tuesday and included a series of amendments proposed by the councilors. [19659004] "That means we can start," he told reporters. "This means we can immediately put money to work on a framework for investment in prevention, and that means that the council will have the opportunity to really dig, which was still my intention, on these issues once we have something about. "