Media Release - Sept 20 Council Highlights

For immediate release

Sept. 20, 2023

Here are the highlights from the Lanark County Council meeting held Sept. 20, 2023.

Council Congratulated for Work in Intimate Partner Violence: At the community services committee meeting earlier this month, Lanark County Interval House and Community Support Executive Director Erin Lee applauded Lanark County Council’s efforts in combatting intimate partner violence and expressed her gratitude for their support and initiative.

Lanark County was the first municipality in Ontario and Canada to declare intimate partner violence an epidemic. This was the first of 86 recommendations in the Culleton, Kuzyk and Warmerdam Inquest held in 2022 following their murders in Renfrew County in 2015. Since Lanark County’s declaration, more than 40 municipalities in Ontario, including Ottawa and Toronto, have followed suit, representing more than 50 per cent of the province’s population.

“Lanark County Council received a proposed resolution, supported the passing of the resolution and made three amendments that made it even better,” Lee said. “I’m not sure you understood the importance of what you were doing at the time.”

The resolution was shared with all 444 municipalities in Ontario, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) and specific provincial and federal ministries. AMO has also made the declaration and the federal government has described gender-based violence as an epidemic in its formal response to the inquest.

“Lanark County’s endorsement recognizes the impact and issue of violence in our rural community,” Lee said. “It provides pressure on the province to make changes, and it speaks to the inquest and the power of the 86 recommendations and to the local leadership of anti-violence communities in and around the county and region.”

Lee outlined the ripple effect of the recommendation, which has included consultation and meetings with various ministries and provincial organizations, a great deal of publicity and education. “What a difference a small community can create,” she said. “There is more to do. We must continue to work together and to learn from each other, we must demand change in Ontario, we must explore the funding realities of agencies addressing IPV and we must continue to drive change.”

For more information, contact Jasmin Ralph, Clerk, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1502.

Naloxone Program to be Implemented: Council passed a motion directing its health and safety committee to create, implement and manage a naloxone program to manage the use of naloxone on anyone suffering from an apparent drug poisoning at a county office.

Naloxone (Narcan) is a drug that temporarily reduces an opioid overdose and can be injected or given as a nasal spray. Opioids are prescription and non-prescription pain relievers that can result in problematic use that causes social, economic, health or relationship harms, as well as dependency. Non-prescription opioids such as heroin and illicit fentanyl can be more lethal than other street drugs. Local emergency departments are reporting cases of dangerous additives to fentanyl, such as animal tranquilizers, and the health unit reports an increase in drug poisonings occurring in public spaces and organizations.

Social Services Director Emily Hollington explained at the community services committee meeting earlier this month that a client experienced drug poisoning in the social services waiting room. “Clerical staff recognized symptoms, called 9-1-1, paramedics arrived quickly and the situation ended positively for the individual. Staff are acutely aware the outcome could have been vastly different,” she said, noting there has been advocacy for a naloxone program as a precaution. “Naloxone would permit more time for paramedics to arrive should someone overdose at a county office.”

The Leeds Grenville Lanark District Health Unit will provide training to employees interested in naloxone administration and has recommended naloxone becoming part of the county’s first aid response. For more information, contact Emily Hollington, Director of Social Services, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 2101.

Contracts Awarded for Homelessness Prevention Program Investment Plan: Lanark County Council has awarded two contracts resulting from expressions of interest (EOI) received under the county’s Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) Investment Plan. Cornerstone Landing Youth Services is slated to receive $37,256 for a youth homelessness outreach worker, and $126,600 will go to Lanark County Mental Health for a mental health and harm reduction worker.

At the community services committee meeting earlier this month, Community Support Services Manager Brooke Coutts explained the provincial HPP funding supports homelessness prevention programs. “To address the local need, Lanark County proposed two third-party case management opportunities to improve access to support for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness,” she said. “This opportunity will contribute to the county’s overall efforts to prevent and reduce homelessness, while reducing stigma and enhancing community partnerships.”

Two responses were received for the youth homelessness outreach worker EOI. Coutts explained Cornerstone Youth Landing will be able to address the current gap of after-hours outreach services for youth experiencing homelessness while working in collaboration with the county’s by-name list committee on homelessness. One response was received for the mental health and harm reduction worker EOI, which is a partnership with the health unit in response to needs identified in the community. Lanark County Mental Health is part of the by-name list committee and provides supports to individuals experiencing homelessness. The scoring committee ensured applications met all criteria. The harm reduction and mental health outreach worker is a new partnership that will enhance community resources.

“This aligns with the HPP funding service category of Community Outreach and Support Services, with a particular emphasis on serving individuals who experience stigma and trust issues with health and social systems, and operates outside of traditional healthcare settings,” Coutts added.

For more information, contact Brooke Coutts, Community Support Services Manager, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 2201.

Upcoming Meetings: County Council, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 5 p.m.; Community Services, Oct. 4 (following County Council); Corporate Services, Oct. 4 (following Community Services). Watch for details about public access to meetings on agendas and through online notifications. For more information, contact 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1502. Like "LanarkCounty1" on Facebook and follow "@LanarkCounty1" on Twitter!