The Ontario Community Support Association presents the 21st annual conference, “Great !deas 2013: Together is Better”. It will take place at the Hilton Suites in Markham, Ontario on Wednesday, October 23rd and Thursday, October 24th. Be sure to save the date now!

To All Members:

As you are aware the Transitional Committee as appointed by the Boards of both associations has worked over the summer to bring the associations together and build a new organization.  An Amalgamation Agreement and Bylaws have been developed for this purpose and are attached to this email.

Ontario Human Rights Commission release of ‘Minds that Matter: Report on the consultation on human rights, mental health and addictions’

As you are aware the Ministry of Health has convened an expert working group on Narcotic Addiction in response to the removal of OxyContin from the Canadian market.  As part of that working group it was recommended to develop and disseminate opiod advice to health care providers as well as for families.  The attached information includes information on:

• Opioid Withdrawal


• Opioid Intoxication


• Opioid Conversion


• Opioid Dependence in Pregnant Women             

Both the President of Addiction Ontario, Deborah Gatenby and the President of the Ontario Federation of Community Mental Health and Addiction Programs, Jon Thompson would like to share some exciting news with you that will impact all organizations working within the Addiction and Mental Health sector.

On Thursday October 23rd, members of Ontario’s new Liberal cabinet were sworn into office by Premier Dalton McGuinty.

The cabinet was reduced from 28 members to 22 that held titles during the last session at Queen’s Park, many of them familiar faces from the previous cabinet. McGuinty promised a smaller cabinet after the Liberals lost four former ministers in the October election and fell to 53 seats from 72.

The Liberals have said the cabinet has the experience Ontario needs during an uncertain global economy.

On October 13 and 14, steering committee and working group members of each of the Ontario Drug Treatment Funding Program Systems Projects met at the Delta Chelsea Hotel to attend the Drug Treatment Funding Program (DTFP) Launch.

The Launch provided steering committee and working groups members the opportunity to discuss the DTFP initiative, and learn about individual systems projects.

Some of the highlights from the Launch included:

A landmark decision by the Supreme Court of Canada this morning overrode federal objections to a controversial supervised drug injection clinic in Vancouver, and ordered that it remain open.

Toronto, September 28, 2011: The Ontario Federation of Community Mental Health and Addiction Programs (OFCMHAP) is questioning political parties on the whereabouts of a housing strategy in the upcoming provincial election. OFCMHAP is urging all political party candidates and the next government of Ontario through its provincial housing election strategy, "A Doorway to Success: Housing with Supports” to make a commitment to housing, in particular housing with supports for people with mental health and addiction issues.