Supporters are decrying a change in Ontario regulation that may shut two supervised drug consumption websites in Guelph and Kitchener.
One on the Guelph Group Well being Centre on Woolwich Avenue and one other operated by the Sagueen Well being Centre on Duke Avenue in Kitchener are set to shut in March 2025.
These and eight different drug consumption websites throughout Ontario, together with 5 in Toronto, are being impacted as a result of modifications in provincial regulation that prohibits the operation of such websites inside 200 metres of a faculty or child-care centre.
“This is difficult news,” Melissa Kwiatkowski, CEO of the Guelph Group Well being Centre, mentioned in a press release.
“We know that the CTS in Guelph saves lives and connects people to vital addictions treatment services, mental health services and primary care services.”
Story continues beneath commercial
Kwiatkowski mentioned the centre wants time to grasp the main points of the modifications and the way they are going to impression their providers.
Get breaking Nationwide information
For information impacting Canada and around the globe, join breaking information alerts delivered on to you after they occur.
Along with the rule modifications, Well being Minister Sylvia Jones introduced on Tuesday that the federal government will now be placing its concentrate on treating individuals with critical addictions. The province will spend $378 million to open 19 homeless and addictions restoration remedy (HART) hubs throughout Ontario.
Supporters of supervised consumption websites have expressed their disappointment on the information of the closures. They mentioned these locations are crucial in terms of hurt discount as a part of the general drug technique.
Extra on Canada
Extra movies
“Treatment and harm reduction services must coexist — they are not mutually exclusive,” mentioned Jane Hopkins, supervisor at Wellington Guelph Drug Technique.
“A move towards treatment exclusively will not provide solutions to this crisis.”
The modifications come after a overview of the consumption and remedy websites after a feminine bystander was shot and killed throughout a gunfight involving three males exterior a supervised consumption web site in Toronto in July 2023.
Trending Now
Scientists make shock discovering on what causes Huntington’s illness
Justin Baldoni sues Blake Vigorous and Ryan Reynolds for $400M
Critics have argued that supervised consumption websites solely encourage extra drug use and improve felony exercise.
“I have personally heard growing concerns from parents, businesses, visitors and others about the current site (on Woolwich Street),” Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie mentioned in a submit on X.
Story continues beneath commercial
“There has been legitimate concerns, and I won’t discount or belittle those very real stories that have crossed my desk and have been told to me personally.”
Guthrie is applauding the Ford authorities for “moving forward with a detailed plan to save lives, restore families and improve communities struggling with the stranglehold of addictions.”
“I’m confident that the new HART Hub model will show the positive results cities have been desperately requesting for our most vulnerable citizens, not just in Guelph, but across Ontario,” Guthrie mentioned.
– with information from Canadian Press
© 2024 , a division of Corus Leisure Inc.
