Northern Ont. reaction to Tory leader’s comments on supervised consumption sites

Harm-reduction organizations in northeastern Ontario are reacting to recent comments made by federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre regarding supervised consumption sites.

During a press conference in Montreal last week, Poilievre referred to the sites as "drug dens," and said, if elected as Canada's next prime minister, his government would not use "a single penny of taxpayers' dollars" to fund them.

"I will be closing them. We will close safe injection sites next to schools, playgrounds, anywhere else that they endanger the public and take lives," he said.

Heidi Eisenhauer, executive director of Sudbury's Reseau Access Network, said she was shaken by his comments.

"I feel very emotional about it," Eisenhauer said.

"When stigmatizing language is used in the public, it deteriorates the public perception of the complexity of substance use."

Reseau Access Network operated Sudbury's site, referred to as ‘The Spot. It closed in April after waiting two years to hear from the province on funding. It was able to support itself thanks to financial aid from the City of Greater Sudbury and from donors.

Eisenhauer said there's been hundreds of studies done across the country about the effectiveness of the sites.

"There have been hundreds of studies across Canada. Supervised consumption sites do work. They do prevent death and they do reduce incidents of HIV and hepatitis C -- they do save taxpayer payers dollars," she said.

During a press conference in Montreal last week, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre referred to the sites as "drug dens," and said, if elected as Canada's next prime minister, his government would not use "a single penny of taxpayers' dollars" to fund them. (File)

Eisenhauer added it's a "rigorous process" to open consumption sites, and it’s a decision that is not taken lightly.

"We have to go through rigorous community surveys before opening,” she said.

“And we know that they're not anywhere near a daycare or a school or places where children play because there are regulations in place to create safety for community members.”

With the closure of SACY, Eisenhauer said wraparound services have taken a hit.

"Closing SACY harm-reduction services has seen an increase of youth on the street that are experiencing homelessness and active substance use without having any ability for people to have a place to go to use substances," she said.

In a statement to CTV News, Sudbury MPP Jamie West, condemned Poilievre's comments.

“Comments like these are not rooted in science, reality, or empathy – but in misinformation,” West said.

“We have lost thousands to a toxic drug crisis. Politicians and those who seek to be in power should offer solutions, not stigma and shame that makes life worse for those already suffering."

The site Timmins closed last month after also not hearing from the province about funding. The Canadian Mental Health Association Cochrane Timiskaming Branch took over to temporarily offer services.

Timmins site closed

While no one was available for an interview, in a statement, a spokesperson spoke of the site’s success.

"Through the implementation of services like supervised consumption, the opioid-related mortality rate in the Timmins region was reduced from 80.2 to under 60 per 100,000 between 2020 and 2024, one of the most significant reductions in the province."

Eisenhauer said Reseau still has not heard anything from the province. She said Peterborough is the only site that received provincial funding.

"It is the only site that has received funding since the Ford government came into power and that was because they had treatment services in within their walls," she said.

"So we're looking at that model and we will reapply for the services."

In the meantime, Eisenhauer said a study will come out at the end of this year examining the impact of a SCS closure on the community.