Ford government tables bill that will shutter nearly half of Ontario’s supervised consumption sites

Why it matters:

The Ford government has tabled a bill that would shutter nearly half of Ontario’s supervised consumption sites. The move has been met with criticism from public health experts, who say it will lead to more overdose deaths.

What’s happening:

Bill 124, the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act, 2023, was introduced in the Ontario legislature on Thursday. If passed, the bill would close 13 of the province’s 24 supervised consumption sites.

The sites provide a safe space for people to use drugs under the supervision of trained staff. They also offer a range of health and social services, such as addiction counselling, overdose prevention training, and referrals to treatment.

The Ford government argues that the sites are not effective in preventing overdose deaths. They also say that the sites attract crime and disorder to the surrounding communities.

What experts are saying:

Public health experts say that the Ford government’s decision to close supervised consumption sites is a mistake. They say that the sites save lives and that closing them will lead to more overdose deaths.

“Supervised consumption sites are a proven harm reduction strategy that saves lives,” said Dr. David Juurlink, head of the division of clinical pharmacology and toxicology at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto.

“Closing these sites will not make our communities safer. It will only make them more dangerous.”

What’s next:

Bill 124 is currently being debated in the Ontario legislature. It is expected to face significant opposition from the NDP and Liberal parties, as well as from public health experts.

The bill is unlikely to pass in its current form. However, it is possible that the government could make changes to the bill in order to gain support from other parties.