What should Toronto's public health priorities be? Now you have a chance to lose weight

With Toronto's toxic drug crisis and homelessness on the rise, the city's public health agency is developing a new strategic plan to guide it over the next four years.

The strategic plan sets out key priorities for 2024 to 2028 and will help inform public health decisions, according to a Toronto Public Health (TPBH) news release. The previous plan was supposed to be completed in 2019, but was extended due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Development of the new plan will be led by Coun. Alejandra Bravo (Ward 9). He said the plan isn't just a provincial requirement — it's a way for the agency to decide what revenue it will generate.

“With the really serious crises of the opioid crisis, the lack of affordable housing and (the) growing homeless population, it's a good opportunity to look at ourselves as a city and see where we want to go. Bravo said.

“It starts with a better and bigger vision.”

The public hearing begins at 9:30 a.m. Monday at City Hall, when the strategic planning committee will meet.

Residents can register to speak at that meeting or attend a drop-in session from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. There is also an open online survey until March 17.

Cohn is leading the development of the plan. Alejandra Bravo, the plan isn't just a provincial requirement — it's a way for the agency to decide what success looks like. (Stacey Janzer/CBC)

The city is also releasing a guide on how people can talk about their strategic plans in a space that works better than the mayor's office. People can then send a group comment via email.

The next municipal election in 2026 is important for the extension plan, Kuhn said. Chris Moise (Ward 13), chairs the health board.

“At election time things start and stop,” he said. “But the world doesn't stop because of it.”

The story continues

The drug crisis must be a priority, says the lawyer

Part of what's driving the strategy's development is the Toronto Population Health Profile, a 2023 report that provides a snapshot of the city's health status. The profile says overdose deaths will reach a record 591 in 2021, according to the profile.

It noted that all of these deaths were preventable – stigma and discrimination prevented people from accessing services.

The most recent data available on opioid poisoning deaths comes from the provincial coroner's office, which reported 228 in the first two quarters of 2023. In comparison, there were 301 deaths in all of 2019.

Zoë Dodd, co-organizer of the Toronto Overdose Prevention Society, hopes the city's toxic drug crisis will be highlighted in the plan. But he says he worries that the loudest voices on community boards will have more votes.

“People who suffer from the toxic drug crisis, those who are at risk of death, the poor, those who live on the streets, those who live in camps. These people are so inhumane that their voices are heard. “was not accepted on the same level as others,” Dodd said.

Zoe Dodd, co-organizer with the Toronto Overdose Prevention Society, hopes the city's toxic drug crisis is specifically addressed in the plan. (Martin Traynor/CBC)

He said that whatever direction strategic planning takes, priority should be given to those who are struggling the most.

Dodd wants to see supervised consumption sites available to everyone and focuses on data-driven solutions. He said this could include providing 24-hour supervised consumption services in areas where overdoses occur. Now there are 10 safe consumption places in the city.

Dodd also wants to see better treatment for people living in camps who have limited access to health care and may face discrimination in health care facilities.

Addiction services are a provincial responsibility, Moise said. Of the existing consumption sites in the city, TPH says six are provincially funded. According to Moise, TPH is in favor of provincial support.

“But at the end of the day, it lands on our doorstep as a city,” he said.