I Support Bill 60, the Safe & Healthy Communities Act (Addressing Gun Violence), 2021.

Gun violence is a serious problem and a crisis that cannot continue to be ignored. It is is both a public health and a social issue that leaves long-term impacts on our communities, and an issue that we see in more marginalized communities rooting from the underlying systemic inequities that persists here in Ontario. 

Exposure to gun violence has led to mental and physical health impacts that extend far beyond the victim. It results in long-term effects on communities characterized by feelings of fear, anxiety and helplessness, and are often unable to access long-term support, affecting behavioural response to trauma. 

On December 1st, 2021 - Mitzie Hunter MPP for Scarborough-Guildwood tabled the Safe and Healthy Communities Act. It would declare gun violence a public health issue. It allows for counselling services for survivors of gun violence to be covered by OHIP and for all Boards of Health to develop programs and services that aim to reduce gun violence and assist those affected- including community and hospital based violence intervention programs.

In the absence of hospital-based violence intervention programs, hospitals typically “treat and release” violently injured patients to the same environment where they were injured, without a viable strategy for how to stay safe, manage community pressure to seek revenge, or options to positively alter their life course trajectory.

Toronto Public Health has recommended that the Government adopt the 2019 version of the bill. Toronto City Council approved this recommendation unanimously.

We have an opportunity here to intervene before that bullet is fired or trafficked or pointed at one of our neighbours. We can tackle the issue at its root and more importantly give communities the resources to heal. 

Sign your support today, share using #StopGunViolence and tag @celliottability.