"This decision reflects Ontario's commitment to prioritizing treatment, recovery and supports that help individuals move toward long-term stability while protecting Ontario communities. Elizabeth Walker, executive lead for office of the chief medical officer of health, stated this rationale in letters to site operators, indicating the province will provide 90 days notice for an orderly transition of clients to other community health services."
"What the government is choosing to do today will cause deaths. It's something that we said would happen when the sites closed and people did die. This decision is deadly. We are angry about this decision and we will be fighting back. Zoe Dodd, an organizer with the Toronto Overdose Prevention Society, expressed strong opposition to the closures."
The Ontario Ministry of Health has notified multiple drug consumption and treatment service sites that provincial funding will cease in 90 days, effective June 13, 2026. Sites in Toronto, London, Peterborough, Kingston, St. Catharines, and Ottawa received closure notices. The ministry states the decision prioritizes treatment, recovery, and supports for long-term stability while protecting communities, directing clients to alternative services including local HART Hubs. Harm reduction advocates strongly oppose the closures, arguing the sites save lives and that shutting them will result in deaths. The move has generated significant concern from organizations working in harm reduction and public health.
#drug-consumption-sites #harm-reduction #ontario-health-policy #overdose-prevention #public-health-advocacy
Read at www.cbc.ca
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