No time to wait: Mayor Carter renews call for government action on Public Health Crisis

In response to recent events, Mayor Dan Carter issues the following statement, renewing the City’s urgent call for unified government action to address Ontario’s escalating public health crisis:

Just 48 hours ago, gun violence struck our downtown – a shocking act that does not reflect who we are. Oshawa is a city built on kindness, compassion and respect. We will not tolerate lawless behaviour that threatens our safety or damages our community. We will not stand silent.

As your mayor, I’ve consistently called for urgent, unified action on Ontario’s growing public health crisis. Homelessness, mental health and addiction are complex, but manageable when we work together. Oshawa remains committed to public safety and supporting our most vulnerable, leading with compassion and delivering real-time, on-the-ground support.

The Region is directly responsible for social services, shelters, housing, public health and policing, and municipalities like Oshawa are being stretched to their limits. We continue to step up – not because it’s our mandate but because our community needs us. The City of Oshawa now allocates more than $3.5 million annually to protect health and safety and support residents and businesses through initiatives such as:

support for our downtown business community through additional lighting, security, addressing graffiti and garbage removal;
daily sidewalk and road cleaning in the downtown;
daily cleanup of street facing business entrances in the downtown;
aid to private property owners with the removal of drug paraphernalia;
introducing new opportunities for downtown businesses to apply for the Community Improvement Plan grant for security and safety items;
proactive parks patrol and cleaning of trails and parks across the city;
increased patrol 24/7 in the downtown by Municipal Law Enforcement Officers and Corporate Security Officers; and,
Oshawa Fire’s specialized Rapid Response Unit combined with 20 additional firefighters to support quick and efficient response to overdose calls.

View the Oshawa Public Health Crisis infographic.

We’ve done everything we can at the municipal level, but the scale of this public health crisis demands significant action and investment from the regional, provincial and federal governments.

This is why I continue to support the Ontario Government’s Safer Municipalities Act. This Act is a crucial step towards empowering cities like Oshawa with the authority and tools needed to restore safety, dignity and balance in our parks and public spaces. It recognizes the urgent challenges we face and begins to equip local governments and police to respond more effectively. Its passage would mark meaningful progress in addressing the complex issues confronting communities across Ontario.

As Durham’s largest municipality, Oshawa bears a disproportionate share of social challenges, yet we lack social services operated by the Region within our city. Despite the dedication of many, the absence of coordination among these dozens of volunteer-led drop-in centres and charitable organizations leaves serious gaps in care. It is time for Durham Region to lead a unified, accountable approach with trained professionals delivering integrated, responsive support.

This is why we have called for urgent investment in real solutions, including a 24/7 dedicated in-hospital mental health and addiction urgent care clinic right here in Oshawa. This would provide the right care at the right time, easing pressure on our emergency departments and first responders while also ensuring that we are better equipped to deliver responsive and comprehensive care to those in crisis. I’ve requested $40 million in provincial funding for mental health and addictions for Oshawa and stressed the urgency for agencies and governments to work together to focus on recovery programs in a safe and compassionate environment through a continuum of integrated care with wraparound supports.

And while it can sometimes feel like Oshawa is facing these challenges alone – we know we’re not. Numerous municipalities across Ontario are under similar strain, and we draw strength from their shared resolve. I remain committed to pushing for coordinated action and lasting solutions our community needs. But we cannot do it alone. We need strong, sustained action and partnership from all levels of government.