Sites Will Close in 90 Days
The Ontario government has announced it is ending provincial funding for multiple drug consumption sites across the province, with closure notices giving affected sites 90 days, until June 13, 2026, to wind down.
Among the sites receiving closure notices are two in Ottawa, along with locations in Toronto, London, Peterborough, Kingston, and St. Catharines. In Toronto specifically, the Fred Victor Centre and South Riverdale Community Health Centre are among those losing funding. A third site, Carepoint Consumption and Treatment Service in London, is also on the list.
'People Will Die'
Advocates were swift and blunt in their response. Zoe Dodd of the Toronto Overdose Prevention Society did not mince words: "What the government is choosing to do today will cause deaths."
Janet Butler-McPhee of the HIV Legal Network echoed the concern: "We do know people will die without access to the life-saving care they receive at these sites."
The sites that are being defunded serve some of the most vulnerable people in their communities, individuals struggling with addiction who use the supervised locations to avoid potentially fatal overdoses, with trained staff on hand to intervene.
What Ontario Is Replacing Them With
The provincial government framed the decision as a shift in philosophy toward treatment and recovery rather than harm reduction. A spokesperson from the Office of Chief Medical Officer of Health said: "This decision reflects Ontario's commitment to prioritizing treatment, recovery and supports."
Ontario plans to transition toward HART (Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment) hubs, abstinence-focused facilities, with 19 planned across the province and 375 supportive housing units, at a total cost of $378 million.
Not All Sites Are Affected
Three non-provincially-funded sites in Toronto will remain open, including Street Health, Kensington Market Overdose Prevention Site, and Casey House.
For Ottawa residents, the closure of two local consumption sites represents a significant reduction in harm reduction services in a city that has not been immune to the opioid crisis. The 90-day window leaves little time for affected sites to secure alternative funding or make alternative arrangements for the clients who depend on them.
Source: CBC News
