Ontario tables law banning supervised consumption sites, saying there will be no more

Bill introduced as province grapples with ongoing overdose crisis

The Ontario government has introduced legislation that would ban supervised consumption sites in the province, saying there will be no more new sites approved and existing ones will be phased out.

The bill, introduced by Health Minister Christine Elliott, would amend the Health Protection and Promotion Act to prohibit the operation of supervised consumption sites in Ontario.

The government says the bill is necessary to protect public health and safety, and to prevent the spread of drug use and addiction.

Critics say the bill will harm people who use drugs

Critics of the bill say it will harm people who use drugs by making it more difficult for them to access safe and supervised consumption services.

They also say the bill will lead to more overdose deaths, as people who use drugs will be forced to use them in unsafe and unsupervised settings.

The Canadian Drug Policy Coalition, a group that advocates for evidence-based drug policy, said in a statement that the bill "flies in the face of evidence that shows supervised consumption sites save lives and reduce harm."

The bill is part of a broader crackdown on drug use in Ontario

The bill is part of a broader crackdown on drug use in Ontario.

In recent months, the government has also introduced legislation to increase penalties for drug trafficking and to make it easier for police to seize the assets of people convicted of drug offences.

The government says these measures are necessary to address the ongoing overdose crisis in Ontario.

The overdose crisis continues to claim lives in Ontario

The overdose crisis continues to claim lives in Ontario.

In 2021, there were 2,784 overdose deaths in the province, a 25% increase from the previous year.

The majority of overdose deaths in Ontario are caused by opioids, such as fentanyl and carfentanil.

Supervised consumption sites are a proven way to reduce overdose deaths

Supervised consumption sites are a proven way to reduce overdose deaths.

These sites provide a safe and supervised environment for people to use drugs, and they are staffed by trained medical professionals who can provide life-saving interventions in the event of an overdose.

Studies have shown that supervised consumption sites can reduce overdose deaths by up to 50%.

The ban on supervised consumption sites is a step backwards in the fight against the overdose crisis

The ban on supervised consumption sites is a step backwards in the fight against the overdose crisis.

This bill will make it more difficult for people who use drugs to access safe and supervised consumption services, and it will lead to more overdose deaths.

The government should reconsider this bill and instead focus on evidence-based measures that will save lives and reduce harm.