October 29, 2024
Information Sheets
What’s happening?
On August 20, 2024, Ontario’s Health Minister Sylvia Jones announced a ban on supervised consumption sites within 200 metres of schools and childcare centres, forcing ten sites to close by March 31, 2025. With Ontario’s toxic drug crisis causing ten deaths daily, experts warn that reducing harm reduction services will lead to more fatalities, especially in northern Ontario.
Why are unions getting involved?
Supervised consumption sites (SCS) are essential harm reduction services that prevent fatal overdoses and reduce infectious diseases. The Ford government’s actions disregard evidence that SCS save lives and reduce healthcare costs, signaling a lack of compassion and moving away from a public health approach.
Closing SCS will strain emergency responders, increase wait times in ERs, and create unsafe working conditions as more overdoses happen in public spaces and workplaces, burdening healthcare workers and other public sector employees.
Isn’t this about community safety?
Research shows that SCS do not increase crime; Toronto data from 2018-2023 shows declines in robberies, shootings, and other crimes in areas with SCS, with only a 22% rise in assaults—similar to neighborhoods without SCS. SCS also reduce public drug use and discarded needles.
What’s next?
Send an email to Premier Ford, Minister Sylvia Jones, and your MPP to stop the closure of safe consumption sites, protect our communities, and our health care system.