Ottawa’s Drug Consumption Sites Face Funding Cuts

Two supervised drug consumption sites in Ottawa have announced that they were informed the province will stop their funding.

In a joint statement, the Sandy Hill Community Health Centre and Ottawa Inner City Health – which runs The Trailer 2.0 supervised drug consumption site at Shepherds of Good Hope – confirmed they received notification late Friday night that funding from the province would cease in 90 days.

The statement expressed that the sites are “deeply concerned” about what this decision could mean for those who depend on them, warning it might lead to more preventable overdose deaths and increase pressure on other health services.

“We urge the province to reverse this decision and to come to the table to collaborate on alternative models of care that are rooted in evidence and community need,” the statement said.

Representatives from both sites declined interviews, stating they are focusing on their staff and clients over the weekend but plan to address the matter soon.

Neither has confirmed whether this means both sites will have to close.

Advocates Say Shutdown Orders Issued

On Friday, organizers from the Toronto Overdose Prevention Society reported that two sites in Ottawa received letters from the province instructing them they will be shut down.

CBC obtained letters sent to other supervised consumption sites in Toronto. In these letters, Elizabeth Walker, executive lead for the office of the chief medical officer of health, mentioned that a 90-day notice has been given to site operators for an “orderly transition” so clients can access other community health services like HART hubs.

“This decision reflects Ontario’s commitment to prioritizing treatment, recovery and supports that help individuals move toward long-term stability while protecting Ontario communities,” Walker said.

Supervised consumption sites provide a space where drug users can inject or use drugs under trained supervision, reducing overdose risks. These facilities require exemptions from Health Canada under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act for operation. 

CBC has contacted the province for further details.

Busy Consumption Sites in Ottawa

Health Canada data shows there were over 92,000 visits to Sandy Hill Community Health Centre between March 2020 and November 2025, while more than 320,000 people visited Trailer 2.0 at Shepherds of Good Hope.

The visitor numbers at these two locations surpass those of Somerset West Community Health Centre and Ottawa Public Health’s healthy sexuality and risk reduction unit, which had around 50,000 and 12,000 visits respectively during that same time frame.

In 2024, Ontario’s government prohibited supervised drug consumption sites near schools and child-care centers, resulting in ten facility closures across the province. The two Ottawa sites facing funding cuts are not located within 200 meters of any school or child-care center.

Both Sandy Hill Community Health Centre and The Trailer 2.0 have received renewal exemptions from Health Canada under Controlled Drugs and Substances legislation until 2027.

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