Ontario to ban drug consumption sites near schools, child-care centres

Ottawa·New

Move will shutter five supervised consumption facilities in Toronto, and one each in Ottawa, Kitchener, Thunder Bay, Hamilton and Guelph.

Health minister to announce details at Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference Tuesday

A person in a white apron cleans a stainless steel table in a supervised injection site.
A worker cleans a booth following use by a client at a supervised consumption site in Ottawa in January 2021. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)

Ontario is expected to ban supervised drug consumption sites within 200 metres of schools and child-care centres, a move that would force the closure of 10 facilities across the province.

A provincial spokesperson confirmed to CBC/Radio-Canada that Health Minister Sylvia Jones will announce the decision Tuesday afternoon when she is set to address the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference in Ottawa.

CBC will stream her announcement live around 2:45 p.m ET.

The spokesperson said the announcement will also concern addiction recovery supports with “new treatment hubs.”

Of the 10 sites that will have to close under the new rules, five are in Toronto while one each are in Ottawa, Kitchener, Thunder Bay, Hamilton and Guelph.

Supervised consumption sites allow people to inject, snort or otherwise take drugs under supervision to reduce the risk of overdose.

More to come.

With files from The Canadian Press

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