CAMBRIDGE - A day after Ontario health minister Sylvia Jones dropped a bombshell ban on all supervised drug consumption sites within 200 meters of schools or childcare centres, local opinions are mixed on the pending closure of the region's only harm reduction facility.
The measure effectively brings an end to the consumption and treatment services site in Kitchener next year and closes the book on efforts to bring one to Cambridge.
Regional Chair Karen Redman was in Ottawa during yesterday's announcement at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference.
She has been a vocal supporter of CTS in Kitchener and backed the move to bring one to Cambridge.
But in an interview with CambridgeToday, Redman declined to answer if the closure of the CTS site would result in more preventable drug overdose deaths, instead choosing to focus on the relationships staff at the clinic have built with the people it serves.
"I guess I'd answer it by saying that we hear from residents that we need more services for people living with addiction and mental health," she said, adding that she wants to thank staff at the Kitchener CTS for everything they do to support the city's most vulnerable.
"If I were going to identify the biggest asset and success of our CTS it's actually been not just preventing and reversing overdoses, but really building trusting relationships for people who use treatment centres."
The 150 Duke St. W. facility is operated by the Region of Waterloo and Sanguen, which released a statement following the announcement saying the news has been "difficult to digest" but that they believe it's a move in the wrong direction.
"This is a sad day and we don't have to look too far back to see what it will be like without harm reduction," said Julie Kalbfleisch, communications manager for Sanguen. "How many more have to die before we have elected officials who listen to experts."
Kalbfleisch said the Kitchener CTS location has had over 50,000 visits since opening in 2019 and reversed more than 1,000 overdoses.
"The closure will push more people to use in public spaces, washrooms and so on. It will drive more people into hiding which is the exact opposite of what we want," Kalbfleisch said.
After launching a "critical incident review" in the wake of a shooting near a CTS in Toronto last summer, the province said it now believes CTS sites have contributed to the decline of surrounding neighbourhoods, led to increased homicides and "disruptive behaviours that increase crime."
But Kalbleisch disagrees.
"I think one of the most appalling things from the announcement was the rhetoric and further stigmatization that was spread on that stage. This does nothing for those who we are trying to get to come in and receive help."
Cambridge regional councillor Doug Craig has been a long-time critic of CTS sites and agrees with the province that these clinics bring in "unnecessary crime and violence."
"I think we need to be doing something different. We've tried it and it didn't work," said Craig. "We're losing the war on addiction and that is pretty obvious, we have approximately 110 people dying yearly in the region and if we have to change course and accept different alternatives I am okay to accept that."
According to The region's website, there have been 59 suspected overdose deaths in the region in 2024, but Sanguen estimates that number to be closer to 90.
During a question period with the media in Ottawa, Sylvia Jones was asked if there had been any estimates of how many people would die as a result of this decision, to which she claims none would die.
"People are not going to die, they're going to get access to service. I do not call watching someone inject an illicit drug to be healthcare in the province of Ontario," she said.
Many drug policy experts have called on elected officials to stop making legislation based on opinions and look instead to the facts.
Micheal Parkinson has been working with drug policy and consulting with experts for over a decade and noted that harm reduction is the best we have at this time.
"We are quite literally saving lives by just making sure these individuals have a safe place to use and then stepping in if they overdose," he said. "This isn't a magic silver bullet, but we need elected officials to get out of the way of doctors and healthcare providers who are trying to save lives."
Part of yesterday's announcement were details on the province's plan try to fill the gaps created with the closure of CTS sites.
The Ford government will dedicate $378 million to create 19 “Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs” throughout the province within those build 375 “highly supportive housing units” as well as addiction recovery and treatment beds.
Any CTS site being closed down will have the opportunity to convert into one of these HART Hubs and have their application prioritized to lessen the void of services.
The HART Hubs will not be permitted to administer the federal safe supply program, operate safe consumption sites or offer needle exchanges.
Redman is excited about the opportunity to turn the Kitchener CTS site into one of these hubs, adding it reminds her of The House of Friendship with wrap-around services.
"I'm very interested to hear and see what that model looks like," Redman said. "They're putting in money and offering other preventions, education and rehabilitation and those are all things that we know people who live unsheltered, deal with mental health and addictions needs."
Kalbfleisch and Sanguen are also looking on the bright side and embracing whatever this HART Hub will eventually look like.
"We have created such a strong sense of community and people come to the CTS to not even use, but to be around people with lived experiences and get help," she said.
"At the end of the day we are still going to be here for those who need us and it sucks that we're losing this service, but we still need to support our community."
In the open letter about the closures, Sanguen calls for the province to reconsider its decision and to open the gates to more forms of harm reduction and treatment.
"We urge the provincial government to reconsider the decision to close CTS locations in favor of a comprehensive approach that includes both harm reduction and access to treatment, ensuring care for all individuals, including those not yet ready for treatment," reads the letter.
It remains unclear what exactly these HART Hubs will look like and when they will be open.