OTTAWA - The Green Party of Canada is calling for an evidence-based approach to addressing the toxic drug crisis, in light of the Ontario government’s decision to ban safe consumption sites (SCS) within 200 meters of schools and child care centers. This will mean that 10 of the 23 currently operating SCS operations throughout the province face being shut down.
The Ford government announced these sites will be forced to end services by March 2025, but that they can transition into “treatment hubs” that will provide supportive housing, employment help, and addiction care. However, since drug users will not be able to access a safe supply under supervision, this will result in increased deaths and harm from the unregulated drug supply.
“While this decision was made in Ontario, this crisis affects Canadians across the country and we should be working to ensure a consistent, evidence-based approach for everyone, regardless of where they live. Substance use disorders (SUD) affect people from all walks of life, from all socioeconomic backgrounds. It does not discriminate. We must follow the expert lead of health care experts and front line workers, which means a regulated safe supply and safe consumption sites. We must also address the lack of barrier-free, regulated treatment facilities for those who are ready, while increasing access to harm reduction for those who are on waiting lists,” said Green Party Mental Health and Addiction critic Chris Markevich.
One of the affected sites is in the riding of Kitchener Centre MP Mike Morrice.
"Make no mistake: this decision to close life-saving safe consumption sites like the one run by Sanguen Health Center in downtown Kitchener means more folks who are addicted to toxic drugs in our community will die - and every single one will be a preventable death," said MP Morrice. "In Waterloo Region, we've seen a decrease in people dying from poisoned drugs over the past few years - and that's because of successful interventions like the safe consumption site."
Green Party Health critic Dr. Jennifer Purdy stated, “The evidence and lived experience of health care professionals and community members is clear - SCS save lives and improve recovery outcomes. People living with SUDs will require a patient-centered approach to care, with varying needs at different times. We must address the overlapping systems of care that are required for people who use drugs, and that includes treatment, harm reduction, a regulated safe supply, and safe consumption sites. In addition, we need more affordable and accessible housing as well as a Guaranteed Livable Income.”
The Green Party of Canada reiterates its call for a national public health emergency to deal with the ongoing toxic drug crisis, along with expanding harm reduction services across the country in the following ways:
- Regulated safe supply and decriminalization of possession of drugs for individual use
- Regulate the recovery industry, including long-term treatment facilities, recovery houses and safe consumption centers
- Make pharmacare and mental health care part of Canada’s universal health care system with inclusion into the Canada Health Act
- Guaranteed Livable Income to address poverty and access to essentials
- Affordable and accessible housing for all Canadians
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