The provincial government is establishing new rules regarding safe injection sites.
The sites set up for people to consume drugs safely will no longer be allowed to be located near schools or childcare centres.
It means the closure of ten sites, including one in Thunder Bay.
“Communities, parents and families across Ontario have made it clear that the presence of consumption sites near schools and daycares is leading to serious safety problems,” says Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health.
“We need to do more to protect public safety, especially for young school children, while helping people get the treatment they need, which is why we’re taking the next step to expand access to a broad range of treatment and recovery services while keeping kids and communities safe.”
Replacing the sites will be new recovery and treatment facilities known as Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs.
Jones says the province will spend $378 million on the new hubs that may include primary care, mental health services, addiction care and support, social services and employment support, shelter and transition beds and supportive housing.
The exact locations of the new hubs were not revealed but Jones says safe injection sites that are closing will be given the opportunity to operate as a HART Hub.
Jones says steps will also be taken to restrict the development of new safe injection sites or existing ones taking part in the federal safe supply program, with legislation to be introduced at Queen’s Park this fall.
