Belleville Declares State of Emergency Following Surge in Drug Overdoses

Hastings County Paramedic Chief Carl Bowker speaks at a press conference in Belleville, Ont. Feb. 7 as Mayor Neli Ellis, left, looks on. The conference was held to address the rise in overdoses in the city's downtown. City of Belleville photo

The City of Belleville has declared a state of emergency in response to a growing number of drug overdoses that is leaving local emergency personnel, hospitals, and municipal services “close to a breaking point.”

Mayor Neil Ellis announced the state of emergency on Feb. 8, saying the small southeastern Ontario city simply does not have the resources it needs to cope with the ongoing “crisis.”