Province says it 'lost confidence' in Canadore College's ability to deliver on planned treatment centre

There's more information today on the news that the Ford government is pulling the funding and is parting ways with Canadore College on an Addiction Recovery and Treatment Centre planned for North Bay. 

The plan was first announced in 2022, and after some building, some hiring, and several delays, it was suddenly cancelled this week

It was meant to function as a "model site" to demonstrate a new approach to addiction treatment. As recently as October, the local MPP Vic Fedeli, said he expected it to open soon.

Ontario Health said today in an email to CBC News that it "lost confidence in Canadore's ability to meet the operational and clinical requirements needed to open the 53 addiction recovery beds."

"Over the last two years, Ontario Health worked with Canadore College, providing them with considerable opportunity to get this project up and running. Canadore was unable to address clinical and operational requirements."

The statement went on to say that "Ontario Health has now launched a targeted expression of interest to health service providers in the region who have the clinical expertise and operational capability to get this project done." 

"This will ensure the 53 addiction recovery beds initially allocated to the Canadore College project will remain in Nipissing District, connecting people to the care and support they need, in their community for years to come," the email said.

Canadore College has refused to comment on the news.