Ontario system not ready to introduce involuntary addictions treatment [Video]

Ontario’s mental health and addictions minister says the government isn’t in a place to consider involuntary treatment for people in crisis because the current system is already under too much stress.

In a sit-down interview with Focus Ontario, Michael Tibollo laid out how he wants to overhaul Ontario’s mental health and addictions system to ensure everyone can access services near them in less than a week.

“One of the things that we’ve tried to do is build sufficient capacity in withdrawal management,” he said.

“We’re trying to build those locally because those are the most important parts to enter into the system of care.”

His work on the key file comes as Ontario struggles with an increasingly complex addiction crisis.

For the past year, mayors have been demanding the Ford government overhaul its approach to mental health, addictions and its root causes. Encampments have sprung up in major cities and small towns, while health services have …