Faith leaders urge Ford to reverse move to close consumption sites

Faith leaders are calling on Ontario Premier Doug Ford to reverse course on his decision to close 10 supervised consumption sites across the province.

A number of religious organizations came to Queen's Park on Tuesday and said they were hopeful they could reach Ford's "humanity."

Last month, Health Minister Sylvia Jones outlined a fundamental shift in the province's approach to the overdose crisis, largely driven by opioids such as fentanyl.

Ontario will shutter the 10 sites because they're too close to schools and daycares, and the government will prohibit any new ones from opening as it moves to an abstinence-based treatment model.

Health workers, advocates and users of the sites have warned of a spike in deaths when the sites close, which is slated for March 31, 2025.

Until then, the faith leaders say they plan to pressure Ford for change.

"I'm hoping that, perhaps, if facts and figures and science and data have all failed, perhaps we have a chance to reach his humanity, perhaps we have an opportunity to try once again to convince him that we are talking about human beings who will die," said Rev. Maggie Helwig of the Church of St. Stephen-in-the-Fields.

The faith organizations all work closely, in one form or another, with those addicted to drugs. The sites slated for closure have said they have reversed thousands of overdoses over the past few years.

"We believe that those who are visiting the sites are the folks who have the least resources, the highest need and the least access to privacy and care," said Bishop Andrew Asbil of the Anglican Diocese of Toronto.

"We believe that the sites are in the right place, which means that they are often in places of deprivation and desolation and sometimes that also includes high crime rates."

Rabbi Aaron Flanzraich of Beth Sholom Synagogue said the province's decision should not be ideological.

"This is not an issue of where you stand," he said.

"It's an issue of where you sit, because if there are people in your family who you sit with at a table who suffer from this blight, from this struggle, you know that most importantly there should be a clear and supportive policy that makes it understandable that people are seen as human beings."

Jennifer Haier, client of the Kensington Market Overdose Prevention Site, told reporters that the staff at the site are like extended family to her. She said she has been clean for two years now after being an addict for about 30 years.