Anticipated Service Impacts for Toronto Public Health and Emergency Responders due to the Closure of Supervised Consumption Sites in Toronto

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The decision

2025-01-20 · Board of Health · amended

As filed

The Board of Health: 1. Urged the Government of Ontario to: a. Increase access to Supervised Consumption Services and Consumption and Treatment Services Sites consistent with the location requirements within the Community Care and Recovery Act, 2024 to prevent overdose deaths and facilitate pathways to substance use treatment; and b. Permit needle exchange services within Homelessness and Addictions Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs to reduce the transmission of communicable diseases.

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c. Share provincial plans for mitigating healthcare system impacts due to the closures of Supervised Consumption Services and Consumption and Treatment Services Sites, as part of implementation planning for Homelessness and Addictions Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs. 2. Requested and authorized the City Solicitor to: a. Seek leave to intervene on behalf of the Board of Health in the Superior Court Application bearing Court File No. CV-24-00732861-0000 (the "Application") and to intervene in the Application if granted leave by the Court; and b. Take any further steps necessary and consistent to give effect to this authorization, in consultation with the Chair of the Board of Health, or in the Chair's absence, the Vice-Chair of the Board of Health. 3. The Board of Health directed that Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (January 17, 2025) from the City Solicitor remain confidential in its entirety as it contains advice which is subject to solicitor-client privilege and information about litigation or potential litigation that affects the Board of Health. 4. The Board of Health directed that the confidential information contained in Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (January 7, 2025) from the City Solicitor remain confidential in its entirety as it contains advice which is subject to solicitor-client privilege and information about litigation or potential litigation that affects the Board of Health.

On the agenda

As the city filed it

On December 4, 2024, the Government of Ontario passed the Community Care and Recovery Act, 2024 . This legislation introduces new requirements for operating supervised consumption service sites in Ontario and will lead to a reduction in supervised consumption services available in Toronto by March 31, 2025. On November 18, 2024 , the Board of Health requested the Medical Officer of Health, in consultation with the Toronto Police Service, Toronto Fire Services, and Toronto Paramedic Services to provide a summary of likely service impacts related to the anticipated closure of supervised consumption sites in Toronto.

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This staff report provides an overview of anticipated service impacts to Toronto Public Health's clinical service and emergency services in the city as a result of this provincial policy change. The Board of Health also requested the Medical Officer of Health, in consultation with the City Solicitor, to provide a summary of any legal issues related to the Provincial decision to close supervised consumption sites in Toronto. An overview of the legal implications and advice related to the closures of the supervised consumption sites is provided in the supplementary report from legal services. Supervised consumption sites are healthcare facilities that allow people to bring their own drugs to use in the presence of trained healthcare professionals. These facilities save lives, connect people to social services and are pathways to treatment. The new legislation will reduce access to an evidence-based clinical healthcare service leading to an anticipated increase in preventable fatal and non-fatal overdoses. Toronto Fire Services, Toronto Paramedic Services and Toronto Police Service were consulted in the development of this report.

Staff recommended

The Acting Medical Officer of Health recommends that: 1. The Board of Health urge the Government of Ontario to: a. Increase access to Supervised Consumption Services and Consumption and Treatment Services Sites consistent with the location requirements within the Community Care and Recovery Act, 2024 to prevent overdose deaths and facilitate pathways to substance use treatment; and b. Permit needle exchange services within Homelessness and Addictions Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs to reduce the transmission of communicable diseases.

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On the record

The item as the City filed it