Ontario Premier Doug Ford told reporters on Monday that ‘safe injection sites’ are not working as advertised by the federal government, claiming that they’re ruining neighbourhoods, parks, and the lives of those who use them.
The Premier made his statements during an unrelated announcement in Thunder Bay, where opioid-related deaths are higher per capita than most cities, and one so-called safe injection site exists.
“I’ll be very frank, I’m not sold on these safe injection sites, they’re in neighbourhoods where needles are flying around, it’s a haven for drug dealers in my opinion.”
Ford also said “the numbers don’t show” that the sites are helping.
“Safer supply” is the legalized process of giving hard drug users free drugs — including highly addictive opioids — so they don’t use street drugs and accidentally kill themselves. The federal Liberals launched related programs in 2020 across the country, since which time opioid-related have increased. However, the majority of opioid-related deaths in 2023 (88%) resulted from non-pharmaceutical drugs.
Ford advocated for more detox beds instead of more safe injection sites.
The Premier continued: “It’s like putting an alcoholic outside the LCBO and telling them not to drink, but giving them a bottle every day.”
“Drug dens”
Federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has also spoken out against the sites, labeling them “drug dens.”
Weeks later, Ontario’s London Police Service (LPS) sounded alarm bells on the growing issue of diverted safe supply drugs in the community.
“The diversion of safe supply is occurring in this community and impacting the people who live here,” Chief Thai Truong said.
