A large group of Sudbury front-line harm workers recently signed a letter to the provincial government.
It urged the province to declare the issue of opioid overdoses and deaths an emergency.
But instead, the Wynne government announced a new investment of more than $200 million over the next three years to help fight the opioid crisis.
"I'm a bit concerned. I mean it has been declared a state of emergency in British Columbia," said Dr. Mike Franklyn, Rapid Access Addiction Medicine Clinic.
"The minister said in Ontario it has to be a finite problem that can be dealt with in 14 days. This won't be dealt with in 14 days. It has to be dealt with today or yesterday."
"There is a need in our community and the best way to respond to it," said Richard Rainville, Reseau Access Network.
"For us, as an organization, to actually have more people on the streets and being able to connect with folks, being able to provide them the education, the support and the harm reduction materials"
The money is being directed to provide more front line workers, quicker access to treatment; while also expanding the supply of life saving kits.
"Sudbury is probably better off than any other community in the north because we have a Rapid Access Addition Medicine Clinic and the minister referred to that, the one at St. Mike's," said Dr. Mike Franklyn, Rapid Access Addiction Medicine Clinic.
"We're the only one in Northern Ontario of that type, where people can get in within a few days, but we need a huge expansion of that system across the north."
Local harm reduction professionals said they're waiting to hear just what that $222 million investment by the province will mean for the north; as they say they believe the opioid crisis is a bigger problem here, than anywhere else in Ontario.
