Item - 2024.HL19.2
Tracking Status
- This item was considered by Board of Health on December 9, 2024 and was adopted with amendments.
HL19.2 - Responding to the Safer Streets, Stronger Communities Act
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
Board Decision
The Board of Health:
1. Directed the Medical Officer of Health and the Chair, Board of Health, to submit a letter to the Ministry of Health responding to the Safer Streets, Stronger Communities Act.
Origin
Summary
On November 18th, the Provincial government tabled Bill 223, which includes the Community Care and Recovery Act. This act is the result of the government’s commitment to ban supervised consumption sites within 200 metres of schools and child care centres from earlier this year. It stipulates that no person shall establish or operate a supervised consumption site at a location that is less than 200 metres from a designated premises. This legislation will force the closure of at least five supervised consumption facilities in Toronto, putting countless lives at risk and burdening our first response services.
As this board has previously shared its support for safe consumption sites, I recommend that we direct the Medical Officer of Health to provide comments on Bill 223 on our behalf.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-251277.pdf
Communications
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/hl/comm/communicationfile-185332.pdf
(December 6, 2024) Letter from Michael Parkinson, Drug Strategy Network of Ontario (HL.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/hl/comm/communicationfile-185370.pdf
(December 6, 2024) Letter from Sandra Ka Hon Chu, HIV Legal Network (HL.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/hl/comm/communicationfile-185376.pdf
Speakers
Nik Carverhill
Calum Houston, Harm Reduction Advocacy Collective
Patrick Murray
Dayn Kent
Meghan White
Marina Classen, Harm Reduction Advocacy Collective
Toby Stevens-Guille
Monika Monico
Lhamo Dolkar, Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario
Karen McDonald, Toronto's Drug Checking Service, Unity Health Toronto
Beeta Senedjani, Canadian Drug Policy Coalition
Peter Bachman
Joseph Ascenzo
Morgan Garnett
Cécile Kazatchkine, HIV Legal Network
Mon Martins
Trevor Heida, Street Health
Stephanie Niesner
Justine Neira Ariza
Emilie Frenette, Street Health Community Nursing Foundation
Motions
That Recommendation 1 be amended as follows:
1. That the Board of Health direct the Medical Officer of Health, in consultation with the City Solicitor, to submit comments on Bill 223 before December 18th, 2024. and the Chair, Board of Health, to submit a letter to the Ministry of Health responding to the Safer Streets, Stronger Communities Act.