Funding Cuts Lead to Closure of Peterborough Consumption Site

A supervised consumption and treatment (CTS) site located in downtown Peterborough is scheduled to close after the Ontario government revealed it will stop funding multiple sites throughout the province.

The Simcoe Street facility, which opened its doors in June 2022, is one of seven supervised consumption sites situated in areas that also feature a Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment hub – referred to as a HART hub.

The province announced on Monday that funding will now be allocated toward treatment and recovery initiatives.

In February 2022, the government stated it would provide $1.35 million each year for the CTS.

Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith mentioned that this change highlights a commitment to assisting individuals in moving away from substance use.

“I think that it would be very safe to say that we’re better off to have someone embark on a path to sobriety than to have them continue using whatever substance they were using,” Smith told on Monday following the province’s announcement.

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The Peterborough CTS is run by Fourcast. Executive director Donna Rogers expressed her disappointment regarding the decision, though she said it wasn’t unexpected.

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“I just think it’s a regrettable decision,” she remarked.

Rogers added that the province has taken a definitive stance on how it plans to tackle addiction and homelessness issues.

“I don’t think that this is a surprise. There’s clearly a philosophical position that the province has taken around its strategies for intervening with problems related to opiates, homelessness, and the general increase of addictions visible in the community,” she noted.

According to Fourcast, up to 320 people utilize the Peterborough site each year. Staff members also conduct an average of 18 life-saving interventions monthly.

Rogers raised concerns about where individuals will seek help once the site closes down.

“So when the CTS closes, the question would be: Where will those 320 injections take place?’” she asked.

Lakelands Public Health, which serves as the region’s public health unit, reported that between January 2023 and August 2024, Peterborough’s CTS logged over 15,000 visits and “successfully managed” 104 drug poisonings without any fatalities occurring.

In December 2025 alone, there were 896 users (including repeat visitors) at the Peterborough site.

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The health unit indicated that 28 percent of those visits were for services beyond drug consumption; this included support for substance use treatment, housing assistance, healthcare services, and mental health resources.

“Continuity of services that support people who use substances is an important component of protecting community health, particularly at a time when many communities continue to experience the impacts of the toxic drug supply,” said Lakelands Public Health.

“Lakelands Public Health will continue to collaborate with local drug strategies to understand the impacts of this change and support individuals who may be affected.”

The province has stated organizations now have 90 days to prepare for closing a CTS. Those currently dependent on this service will be connected with additional resources through their local HART hub.

>{Smith said this transition period offers an opportunity for community members. to discuss how services can be adjusted.}>

“We have 90 days now. to look at all of. the other services provided. and determine how do we pivot that’s something else in. the community,” he explained.

>{He pointed out existing supports like local detoxification. and rehabilitation services along with outreach groups cleaning. up drug paraphernalia. in. the city}.)

“We’ll take these next. t90 days looking at what would. be best approach as we move forward,” he continued.

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