Toronto crowd rallies to fight closure of supervised drug consumption sites
At least 100 people gathered outside the Kensington Market supervised consumption site in a rally to keep it open in the face of new provincial rules that would shut at least a dozen such sites down across Ontario.
Holding signs that said, “Life inside or death outside” and “Save the site, save lives,” protesters called for a reversal of the policy, which they believed would stop the work of the self-funded Kensington Market Overdose Prevention Site and leave people with an addiction at the mercy of the toxic illicit drug market.
“This year alone, we reversed 50 overdoses, and saved 50 lives,” said the CEO of the group that runs the site, The Neighbourhood Group Community Services.
“We don’t know what will happen to people when we don’t have health care and services for people. We’re afraid people will be using in the street, in the parks, in the laneways and more people will die. We can prevent that,” he said.
Last month, the provincial government announced a ban on the operation of supervised consumption sites within 200 meters of a school or childcare centre.
It was in response to a shooting outside the South Riverdale Community Health Centre, which killed passerby Karolina Huebner-Makurat, a mother of three, with a stray bullet.
Instead, the government will put $387 million to create treatment hubs. Existing sites cannot move and reopen.
That was counter to the recommendations of two reviews that recommended changes to the operation of the centre and called for harm reduction services to be expanded.
The rules will shutter four government-funded sites in Toronto, five outside Toronto, two sites within homeless shelters, and one self-funded site in Kensington Market.
Map shows the locations of supervised drug consumption sites in Toronto. (CTV News Toronto)
The child care centre that included The Neighbourhood Group within the provincial criteria was its own centre, operated across an alley from the supervised consumption site and facing a different street.
In a statement, a health ministry spokesperson said, “Communities, parents and families across Ontario have made it clear that the presence of drug consumption sites near schools and daycares is leading to serious safety problems. We agree. That’s why our government is taking action to keep communities safe while supporting the recovery of those struggling with opioid addiction.”
NDP MPP Jessica Bell, who attended the rally, said in an interview that there could be catastrophic consequences.
“This is a terrible idea. It means more people will die,” she said. “Let’s be clear. The consumption site doesn’t bring the drug use. The drug use is already here. And the community knows that.
“We’ve had police come out, parents come out, local neighbours, social workers, local health professionals who are here to say, look, we are better off with a consumption site than we are without it, because when it’s here, it means the drug use is contained. There’s less garbage on the street and less people dying in washrooms and the schoolyards,” she said.
Healthcare researchers have predicted many deaths stemming directly from the closures. A CTV News review of federal government data shows that the sites facing closure in Toronto have reversed, on average, three overdoses a day.
The sites facing closure across Ontario have reversed on average almost six overdoses a day on average.
A CTV News review of Toronto Police Service data showed that many types of crimes dropped in the years after the supervised consumption sites were established, often more than they did in the rest of the city.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Live election results: Trump retakes the White House, defeats Harris by winning key swing states
Donald Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States on Wednesday, clearing the 270 electoral votes needed to clinch the presidency.
Trump wins the White House in a political comeback rooted in appeals to frustrated voters
Donald Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States on Wednesday, an extraordinary comeback for a former president who refused to accept defeat four years ago, sparked a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, was convicted of felony charges and survived two assassination attempts.
'Canada will be absolutely fine': Justin Trudeau, his ministers and Pierre Poilievre congratulate Donald Trump
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and members of his cabinet congratulated Donald Trump Wednesday morning on his second United States presidential election win, amid questions about how the federal government intends to navigate a second term.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Donald Trump has a long enemies list, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is on it
In his column for CTVNews.ca, former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says Donald Trump's icy relationship with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau could aggravate what already promises to be a very difficult situation for Canada, socially, economically and environmentally.
Kamala Harris made a historic dash for the White House. Here's why she fell short.
It was a moment that encapsulated one of the biggest challenges facing U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign – which, in the end, proved insurmountable. A country crying out for change got a candidate who, at a crucial moment as more voters were tuning in, decided to soft-pedal the change she knew she represented.
Woman's killing by male partner in Nova Scotia all too familiar: researcher
As police investigate the killing of a 71-year-old woman in Nova Scotia by her male partner, the head of an Ontario research group on violence against women says the situation is all too familiar.
Harris to concede defeat to Trump in evening speech, sources tell Reuters
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris will deliver a speech conceding defeat in the presidential election to Donald Trump at 6 p.m. (2300 GMT) on Wednesday, two sources told Reuters.
Liam Payne body moved from British cemetery in Buenos Aires on way to airport: cemetery source
The body of pop star Liam Payne, who died in Buenos Aires last month, has been taken from the city's British cemetery on route to the airport, a senior cemetery source said on Wednesday, signalling the former One Direction singer's likely repatriation.
Various popular brands of bread and buns have been recalled in Canada
Dozens of popular brands of bread have been recalled in Canada after pieces of metal were discovered in some of the products.