Name: Ontario pulls funding from last safe injection site in Toronto
Uploaded: 2025-10-28T01:56:30.588Z
Duration: 2 min 47 s
Description: The last safe injection site in Toronto’s west end neighbourhood is losing its provincial funding and has one month to shut down. CBC’s Dale Manucdoc has the reaction from advocates codeming the decision.

The last safe injection site in Toronto’s west end neighbourhood is losing its provincial funding and has one month to shut down. CBC’s Dale Manucdoc has the reaction from advocates codeming the decision.

Parkdale

Ontario is withdrawing its annual $1.15 million funding from the Parkdale safe consumption site in Toronto, which has experienced a significant increase in clients since other sites were closed. The decision is part of a provincial shift from harm reduction to treatment and recovery, with resources being redirected to new 'heart hubs.'

Local business owners and community members have expressed concerns about safety, public drug use, and discarded paraphernalia. Advocates warn that closing the site may lead to more open drug use in public spaces. The Parkdale site is seeking more time to wind down operations before funding is terminated.

Ontario pulls funding from last safe injection site in Toronto

The safe consumption site located near Queen and Dufferin has seen a roughly 50% increase in service since April 1st. Clients flocked there largely because it was spared from shutting down in the spring when the province closed nine others, since it wasn't within 200 meters of a licensed child care facility or school. But the volume has come with challenges. Neighborhood concerns around safety, public drug use and discarded paraphernalia. This studio owner works right across the street and says it's gotten much worse. There's just been so much action across the street that the police and the ambulance are out there every day. And it's not really something that, I can't bring my kids to work anymore, that's for sure. Yes, there is validity to the concerns because we have actually seen conditions like we have not seen before. Angela Robertson is the executive director of the community health center. She says despite measures to address the issues like increased security and community sweeps, the province is pulling its annual $1.15 million in funding to operate the site. I would say to the government and I would say to the community that the supervised consumption service is not the cause of homelessness. It is not the cause of substance use in community. In fact, it is a response to both. The province shifted away from harm reduction to treatment and recovery, opening up hubs in replacement of safe injection sites. The money that was being spent at the Parkdale's consumption site is now going to be moved to a heart hub. Very happy that we've actually gone to a treatment model, not just illicit drug use. The site in Kensington Market was slated to close at the end of March along with the others, but took the government to court and was granted an injunction. It continues to operate while awaiting a judge's decision. We're a little bit terrified that the numbers are going to have to come to us, that we are the last remaining one west of Yonge Street and that this is too much. Advocates say the closure of another site will lead to more open drug use in public areas. I don't really get the logic that if you shut down a safe indoor space for people to use drugs, you're essentially creating an unsanctioned site on the street. You're going to create a congregation of public drug use. You're going to create more of an issue for our neighbors. Some business owners, several who did not want to speak on camera, say they've already seen that increase. We can see that the vulnerable people are more vulnerable than ever before. So I understand people don't love having those sites in their neighborhood, but I do think it's really important, if not here, then where. The Parkdale site is hoping that the government will give them more time to wind down operations. The funding is set to terminate on November 22nd. Dale Minukdak, CBC News, Toronto.

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