Some locals point at newcomers. The evidence points to housing, a toxic drug supply, and road-safety practices—not immigration. We also face the racism experienced by Indigenous people in our city, and how social media can either fuel division or help fix problems.
By NetNewsLedger Staff
Category: Local News | Analysis
Thunder Bay — When a city feels stretched—more tents, more overdoses, more traffic scares—people want answers. Lately, some have blamed immigrants. The facts don’t support that. The real drivers are housing shortages, a deadly street drug supply, and gaps in road safety. There’s another truth we must own: persistent racism toward Indigenous people in Thunder Bay. And one more factor that can make things better—or worse: social media.
Homelessness: A housing and support problem, not an immigration problem
Point-in-time counts show rising need. The key causes are the cost and lack of housing, income insecurity, mental health, and people leaving institutions without stable homes. Indigenous people are over-represented in local homelessness, a long-standing failure we have to fix. Solutions are straight-forward: more supportive and deeply affordable homes, rent supplements, and coordinated discharge planning.
Addiction: The toxic drug supply is the main cause
Most overdose deaths involve a volatile, illegal supply—especially fentanyl. The answer is treatment on demand, harm-reduction that keeps people alive long enough to recover, and outreach that connects people to housing and care. Immigration is not the cause.
Road safety: Training, fatigue, speed—not nationality
Serious truck collisions are best explained by speed, distraction, fatigue, winter conditions, and weak safety culture. The fixes are known: strong entry-level training, hours-of-service compliance, winter-driving standards, and targeted enforcement.
The reality we must confront: Racism toward Indigenous people
Independent reviews and inquests have documented systemic racism affecting Indigenous residents—especially in public institutions. Progress requires steady, visible delivery on recommendations, Indigenous-led services, cultural-safety training that’s measured, and honest public reporting. This isn’t optional. It is the core work.
Social media: Match or gasoline?
Social platforms amplify whatever we pour into them. They can connect neighbours, share missing-person alerts, and promote fundraisers. They can also spread half-truths, stoke anger, and turn complex problems into blame and stereotypes—especially toward immigrants and Indigenous people.
How posts can make things worse
-
Speed over accuracy: Rumours spread before facts are confirmed.
-
Echo chambers: Algorithms show us more of what we already believe, hardening views.
-
Out-of-context clips: Short videos can mislead about what really happened.
-
Dog whistles and slurs: “Code words” normalize bias and invite pile-ons.
-
Doxxing and vigilante calls: Online “investigations” risk real-world harm.
How posts can make things better
-
Share verified information from official sources (city, police, health units, service agencies).
-
Add context: link to the full story, not just a screenshot.
-
Lift up solutions: housing updates, treatment access, volunteer drives, job fairs, winter-driving tips.
-
Model respect: challenge false claims without insults; report slurs and threats.
-
Network for good: neighbourhood groups can coordinate wellness checks, rides to detox, or snow-clearing for elders.
A simple “post check” before you hit share
-
Source: Who said it? Is there a byline or official release?
-
Date: Is it current? Old stories often resurface as “new.”
-
Evidence: Is there data, a report, or just opinion?
-
Harm: Could this put someone at risk? If yes, don’t post it.
-
Help: If the post names a problem, include a way to help (donation link, hotline, agency contact).
If you encounter hate or threats online, document it (screenshots, URLs) and report it to the platform. If there is a credible threat, call police.
A practical path for Thunder Bay
-
Housing: Fast-track supportive and deeply affordable units; publish a monthly scorecard on approvals, starts, completions, and placements; expand rent supplements.
-
Drug crisis: Add treatment capacity, mobile outreach, and harm-reduction; track wait times and outcomes.
-
Road safety: Enforce hours-of-service and winter-driving standards; target high-risk carriers; expand roadside inspections on key corridors.
-
Confront racism: Publicly track delivery on Indigenous-focused recommendations; fund Indigenous-led housing, health, and safety programs; require and measure cultural-safety training.
-
Digital responsibility: City and agencies should maintain active, real-time channels for storm alerts, traffic incidents, shelter capacity, and overdose warnings—so facts beat rumours.
Bottom line
Thunder Bay’s pressures are real. But immigrants are not the cause—and blaming them won’t build homes, open treatment beds, or make roads safer. We’ll move forward by fixing what the evidence shows, honouring commitments to Indigenous neighbours, and using social media to share solutions, not fuel division.
