Ontario Election: OCC Calls on All Parties to Prioritize Solutions to Substance-Use Crisis

(TORONTO – February 14, 2025) – Today, Daniel Tisch, President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC), issued the following statement urging all provincial parties to make the substance-use crisis a priority in the 2025 election:

“Ontario communities are in crisis. Every day, an average of seven people die from opioid-related overdoses. One in five Ontarians live with mental illness. This is not just a public health emergency; it is an economic emergency. The well-being of our communities and workforce is at stake, and without urgent action, our economy will continue to suffer.

“People are the backbone of our businesses and communities. If we want Ontario to compete on the global stage, we must address the impact this crisis is having on productivity, labour shortages, and the vibrancy of our main streets. Our response must be as urgent and strategic as our approach to any other major economic challenge.

“That is why tackling the substance-use crisis is a key priority in Ontario Competes, our strategic platform for the 2025 provincial election. We are calling on all parties to commit to meaningful solutions, including:

• Creating a province-wide, unified database to track homelessness, mental health, and addictions data.
• Quantifying the economic impact of homelessness, addiction, and mental health issues.
• Expanding early-stage healthcare supports for addiction, mental health, and housing stability.
• Investing in additional treatment capacity for mental health and addiction services.

“Ontario cannot afford to stand still on this issue. The time for action is now.”

Further recommendations are highlighted in detail in the Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s reports and policy primers. These include Mind the Gap Addressing the Mental Health and Addictions “Echo Pandemic” in Ontario, and Beyond Emergency Declarations: Charting Ontario’s Course Through the Substance Use and Overdose Crisis.

-30-

About the Ontario Chamber of Commerce
The Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) is the indispensable partner of business and Canada’s largest, most influential provincial chamber. It is an independent, non-profit advocacy and member services organization representing a diverse network of 60,000 members. The OCC convenes, mobilizes and empowers business and local chambers in pursuit of its purpose: to bring inclusive and sustainable prosperity to Ontario’s businesses, workers, and communities.

For more information, please contact:

Julie Martini
Vice President of Public Affairs
Ontario Chamber of Commerce
juliemartini@occ.ca | Phone: (647) 268-0155