CambridgeToday received this Letter to the Editor from Mayor Jan Liggett in response to Council not consulted on mayor's mental health and addictions poll by Joe McGinty:
Recently, an article was published in Cambridge Today criticizing my approach to commission a public opinion poll regarding mental health and addictions.
When I decided to run for mayor I had several priorities, including balancing the need for housing supply while preserving heritage, providing increased recreation and wellness opportunities for Cambridgites, and the main one being addressing our mental health and addictions crisis.
For almost four decades, as a private citizen, city councillor, and mayor, I had watched the mental health and addictions crisis unfold. My city, like all cities in Canada, has been deeply affected. Whether I stayed silent or provided my opinion, it was always clear to me, we were all doing a lot of talking and as a result there has been an absence of the actions as laid out in the poll.
Every person engaged in discussions on mental health and addictions has an opinion of what possible solutions could be. The more voices you add to the narrative, the easier it becomes to get lost in the never-ending discourse and paralyzed by inaction.
In my capacity as mayor, I decided to commission a public opinion poll.
First, I had felt we heard enough from politicians, experts from both sides, and academics. Some think only those with academic degrees are worthy of opinion, but contrary to a view expressed in the article by another person, you don’t need a degree to provide public opinion. It was time to hear from the people.
Second, I wanted to use a polling company that was reputable and trusted by our current provincial government. After requests for quotations, and in consultation with staff, a polling company that is frequently used by the provincial government was chosen - the same government who has the authority to make decisions about mental health and addictions now.
Before being presented at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) and to the public, it was important to me that this poll was shared with council first. Contrary to Councillor Hamilton’s statement, a member of my office staff presented the concept of the poll to all of council, as the final draft was not yet available. All councillors at that time had the opportunity to ask questions.
It’s unfortunate that my colleague, Councillor Hamilton, doesn’t recall that at the conclusion of that meeting he congratulated the presenter on a job well done. It’s also unfortunate that in May, that same staff member asked Councillor Hamilton his opinion about the wording of one of the questions. This project was not widely shared due to the sensitive nature of it being presented at AMO as part of a delegation. However, the poll was discussed with various councillors in the office during informal conversations.
At the design stage, council did not have an input in what questions were asked – that part was left to the unbiased professionals who designed the poll. It ensured that the poll could get out into the public as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible. As in this case, delays don’t just cost money, they cost lives.
The poll, which cost $20,000.00 + HST was paid for by the Office of the City Manager.
To put it plainly, after speaking about this topic for years, I felt compelled to take some meaningful action.
This poll is irrefutable proof that Ontarians (80 per cent to be precise), across political lines and market segments, want to see a revenue stream dedicated to solving the mental health and addictions crisis. This means that our provincial leaders know that when they allocate our tax dollars to this issue, they do so with the support of the majority of Ontarians.
Further, the results of the poll are thought provoking, others were a surprise, and instill in me a sense of hope. I came away with the feeling that respondents feel deep compassion but are also fatigued by this issue.
Continuing to comment on how much the poll cost, who was consulted, and what questions were asked creates a click-bait narrative and takes away from the issue. In truth, continuing to devote time and attention to this does a huge disservice to the many people and families who are struggling. Since the poll was released I have received a letter of thanks from the group Families For Addiction Recovery, families which have been advocating for a right to intervene for decades. I have also received messages from many mayors across the province commending the city for the poll.
In the poll, Ontarians tell us what they see as priorities when addressing this crisis and how they would like solutions to be paid for – that is huge!
I’m heartened to relay that:
- Two to one, respondents believed that building new facilities for mental health and addiction services was necessary.
- Seven out of ten respondents agreed that larger corporations should contribute a portion of their profits to fund mental health and addictions.
I would encourage everyone to read the findings of the poll.
Mayor Jan Liggett,
City of Cambridge
