OTTAWA — The Ontario government is protecting the safety of children and communities by banning supervised drug consumption sites within 200 metres of schools and child care centres. The government is also mandating new protections to better protect community safety near remaining sites, including new requirements for safety and security plans, as well as new policies to discourage loitering and promote conflict de-escalation and community engagement. In order to restrict access to dangerous and illegal drugs moving forward, the government will also introduce legislation this fall that would, if passed, prohibit municipalities or any organization from standing up new consumption sites or participating in federal so-called “safer” supply initiatives. If passed, the legislation will also prohibit municipalities from requesting the decriminalization of illegal drugs from the federal government.
As part of a comprehensive system of care that prioritizes community safety and focuses on giving people their lives back through treatment and recovery, as well as upstream investments in prevention, the province is investing $378 million in 19 new Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs. These new hubs are in addition to more than $3.8 billion the province is currently investing through its Roadmap to Wellness and nearly $700 million for supportive housing through the Homelessness Prevention Program and Indigenous Supportive Housing Program each year.
“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,” said 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.”
Crime in the vicinity of these sites is significantly higher compared to surrounding neighbourhoods. In Toronto, reports of assault in 2023 are 113 per cent higher and robbery is 97 per cent higher in neighbourhoods near these sites compared to the rest of the city.
Near the Hamilton site, reports of violent crime were 195 per cent higher compared to the rest of the city, and the crime rate near the Ottawa site was 250 per cent higher than the rest of the city. The government’s new direction is also informed by reports from police services in Ontario and across Canada that hydromorphone distributed at consumption sites is being diverted and trafficked, increasing the supply of dangerous and illegal drugs in communities where these sites operate.
In response to these concerns, Ontario is taking the next step to create a system of care that prioritizes community safety, treatment and recovery. HART Hubs, similar to existing hub models in Ontario that have successfully provided people with care, will reflect regional priorities by connecting people with complex needs to comprehensive treatment and preventative services that could include:
Primary care
Mental health services
Addiction care and support
Social services and employment support
Shelter and transition beds
Supportive housing
Other supplies and services, including naloxone, onsite showers and food
HART Hubs will add up to 375 highly supportive housing units, in addition to addiction recovery and treatment beds, that will help thousands of people each year transition to more stable long-term housing. With a focus on treatment and recovery, HART Hubs will not offer “safer” supply, supervised drug consumption or needle exchange programs.
The ban on consumption sites within 200 metres of a school or child care centre will result in the closure of nine provincially-funded sites and one self-funded site, located in Ottawa, Guelph, Hamilton, Thunder Bay, Kitchener and Toronto, no later than March 31, 2025. These provincially-funded sites will be encouraged to submit proposals to transition to HART Hubs and will be prioritized by the province during the review process and could be eligible on average, for up to four times more funding under the HART Hubs model than they receive from the province as a consumption site.
The development of HART Hubs is one of the many investments the Ontario government makes to build a health care system that connects people with mental health and addictions care, including:
Investments through the Roadmap to Wellness and Addictions Recovery Fund, including $124 million over the next three years as part of Budget 2024, are creating more than 500 addiction recovery beds and new models of treatment like mobile mental health clinics
$152 million over three years for supportive housing to assist individuals facing unstable housing conditions and experiencing mental health and addictions challenges
More than $19 million over three years to create 10 new Youth Wellness Hubs that the government is adding to the network of 22 hubs already opened since 2020, bringing the total number of Youth Wellness Hubs to 32 across the province
More than $650 million in annual funding for the Homelessness Prevention Program and $41.5 million for the Indigenous Supportive House Program, which the government increased by $202 million annually in the 2023 provincial budget
$20 million to support more than 100 Mobile Crisis Response Teams in communities across the province so that health care professionals can attend crisis situations in partnership with police
“We are investing more than any government in Ontario’s history to create a nation-leading system of mental health and addictions care,” said Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “The new HART Hubs are a next step in the vision first outlined in the Roadmap to Wellness and expanded on in the Addictions Recovery Fund to provide the substantial regional resources that are needed to keep our communities safe and give people their lives back through treatment and recovery.”
Through Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care and building on the Roadmap to Wellness, the province is taking action to make it easier and faster for individuals to connect to mental health and addictions services in your communities.
Quick Facts
The creation of HART Hubs will be done in partnership with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, and the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.
While HART Hubs will not be allowed to deliver needle exchange programs, needle return or collection services may be considered during the application process.
Through the Roadmap to Wellness, Ontario is investing $3.8 billion over 10 years to fill gaps in mental health and addictions care, create new services and expand programs, in addition to funding provided for supportive housing, homelessness prevention and other social services.
As part of Budget 2024, Building a Better Ontario, the government is building on its work through the Roadmap by investing an additional $396 million over three years to improve access and expand existing mental health and addictions services and programs.
Quotes
"Today’s announcement is a real game changer. This major investment will truly support people to get their lives back on track through needed treatment and recovery, while ensuring that neighbourhoods in Windsor and across Ontario remain safe."
- Drew Dilkens
Mayor, City of Windsor
"I commend the provincial government for moving forward with a detailed plan to save lives, restore families and improve communities struggling with the stranglehold of addictions. I am confident that the new HART Hub model, focused on recovery, will show the positive results cities have been desperately requesting for our most vulnerable citizens, not just in Guelph, but across Ontario."
- Cam Guthrie
Mayor, City of Guelph
"Today’s announcement by the provincial government will deliver safer streets for the residents of Ontario through increased funding for mental health and addiction supports as well as preventing injection sites from being located next to daycare centres and schools. I commend the provincial government for taking these necessary steps to protect our children and residents."
- Alex Nuttall
Mayor, City of Barrie
"Grateful for the Ford government’s focus on treatment for addictions and not band-aid solutions. I share their concern about the proliferation of safe injection sites in area close to families and children. This needs to stop."
- Patrick Brown
Mayor, City of Brampton
"Collaboration between the province and municipalities is key to addressing community wellness. The HART Hubs reflects a focus on treatment and recovery, which mirrors efforts Greater Sudbury and local health providers have been using. I look forward to working with the province on helping people transition to stable, long-term housing."
- Paul Lefebvre
Mayor, City of Greater Sudbury
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