Primary Country (Mandatory)

United States

Other Country (Optional)

Set News Language for United States

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language[s] (Optional)
No other language available

Set News Language for World

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language(s) (Optional)

Set News Source for United States

Primary Source (Mandatory)
CNN
Other Source[s] (Optional)

Set News Source for World

Primary Source (Mandatory)
AajTak
Other Source(s) (Optional)
  • Countries
    • India
    • United States
    • Qatar
    • Germany
    • China
    • Canada
    • World
  • Categories
    • National
    • International
    • Business
    • Entertainment
    • Sports
    • Special
    • All Categories
  • Available Languages for United States
    • English
  • All Languages
    • English
    • Hindi
    • Arabic
    • German
    • Chinese
    • French
  • Sources
    • India
      • AajTak
      • NDTV India
      • The Hindu
      • India Today
      • Zee News
      • NDTV
      • BBC
      • The Wire
      • News18
      • News 24
      • The Quint
      • ABP News
      • Zee News
      • News 24
    • United States
      • CNN
      • Fox News
      • Al Jazeera
      • CBSN
      • NY Post
      • Voice of America
      • The New York Times
      • HuffPost
      • ABC News
      • Newsy
    • Qatar
      • Al Jazeera
      • Al Arab
      • The Peninsula
      • Gulf Times
      • Al Sharq
      • Qatar Tribune
      • Al Raya
      • Lusail
    • Germany
      • DW
      • ZDF
      • ProSieben
      • RTL
      • n-tv
      • Die Welt
      • Süddeutsche Zeitung
      • Frankfurter Rundschau
    • China
      • China Daily
      • BBC
      • The New York Times
      • Voice of America
      • Beijing Daily
      • The Epoch Times
      • Ta Kung Pao
      • Xinmin Evening News
    • Canada
      • CBC
      • Radio-Canada
      • CTV
      • TVA Nouvelles
      • Le Journal de Montréal
      • Global News
      • BNN Bloomberg
      • Métro
Ecosmart Fleece Full-zip Hoodie Buy Now
4K Vlogging Camera with 3" Flip Screen Buy Now
Superior Milford Buy Now
Men's Casual Cardigan Sweaters Buy Now
Levi's Slim Fit Gold Jeans Buy Now
Skinny Jean for Women Buy Now
Longline Wirefree Sports Bra Buy Now
3 Pairs Compression Socks for Women Buy Now
Lee Women's Ultra Lux Comfort Jeans Buy Now
Summer Vacation Resort Maxi Dresses Buy Now
Polarized Sports Sunglasses 3-Pack Buy Now
DEARMAY Gold Bracelets Set Buy Now
Tracksuits Sweatsuits for Men Buy Now
Retractable 3A Multi Charging Cord Buy Now
Mens Golf Pants Buy Now
Trendy Racerback Tank Tops Buy Now
Under Armour UA Tech™ Team ½ Zip Buy Now
Men's Bomber Jacket Buy Now
NELEUS Women's Running Shorts Buy Now
Women's Elastic Waist Running Shorts Buy Now
MoreBack to News Headlines
Whitehorse NGO concerned about future of harm reduction with federal election around the corner

Whitehorse NGO concerned about future of harm reduction with federal election around the corner

CBC
Wednesday, April 23, 2025 8:52 AM GMT

The head of a harm-reduction organization in Whitehorse is concerned about what impact the upcoming federal election — and a new government — could have on programs and support for people who use drugs. 

"We've really seen an increase in misinformation about substance use and harm reduction and the toxic drug crisis kind of across the country," Jill Aalhus, the executive director of Blood Ties Four Directions, said in an interview this month. 

"And in the Yukon, we've continued to have a lot of community support, but there is concern that our programs could be at risk."

Blood Ties operates a number of services in the city including the territory's only supervised consumption site, where people can consume illicit drugs in a controlled environment with staff on hand. 

Harm reduction advocates and front-line workers say sites like Blood Ties are critical for preventing or reversing potentially-fatal overdoses and putting people in touch with other resources like counselling or housing support. 

However, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has referred to supervised consumption sites as "drug dens," with the party, in its election platform, promising to ban them from within 500 metres of schools, parks and seniors homes while also imposing "strict new oversight rules to ensure they are pathways for treatment and recovery." 

Liberal leader Mark Carney, separately, has said the federal government is "undergoing a review of the effectiveness" of supervised consumption sites, while both the NDP and Green Party have previously explicitly pledged support for them. 

The Greens, in their election platform, promise to expand funding for supervised consumption sites and harm reduction services to ensure "nationwide access," including in rural areas and correctional facilities, while the Liberal and NDP platforms do not explicitly mention them.

Blood Ties' site, located on Sixth Avenue in downtown Whitehorse, opened in 2021 and has seen tens of thousands of visits since. Aalhus, who previously worked as Blood Ties' program manager, said it drastically changed the organization's work. 

"I remember living in Whitehorse and working at Blood Ties before we had a supervised consumption site and we had to respond to overdoses outside in the snow and in really difficult positions," Aalhus said. 

"And now we have this great facility… [But] anytime there is a change in government, we worry, will this essential work continue?"

Whitehorse resident Lauren Hill told CBC News that harm reduction was a key issue for her this election, and that any talk of closing supervised consumption sites, or making them harder to access, was a line-in-the-sand for her. 

"I am firmly opposed to this attack on life-saving healthcare and the blatant disregard for the lives of people who use drugs," Hill said. 

Aalhus said the toxic drug crisis has been held up as a "wedge issue," and that recent national conversations have pitted treatment and recovery options against measures like supervised consumption sites. 

Read full story on CBC
Share this story on:-
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running GamePlay Run 3, the ultimate space tunnel running game with 300+ challenging levels!Adv.
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing GameTraffic Jam 3D is a game where you’ll be driving through heavy traffic.Adv.
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic GamePlay the classic 1984 light gun shooter game Duck Hunt on your browser.Adv.
More Related News
Alberta lifts ban on American liquor imports — but local demand for U.S. booze isn't the same

The Alberta government has lifted its ban on American liquor imports, but that doesn't necessarily mean there will be more U.S. booze landing on shelves anytime soon.

Robert Miller, billionaire accused of sex crimes, unfit to stand trial, judge rules

Robert Miller, the Montreal billionaire accused of multiple sex crimes, is too sick to stand trial, Quebec Superior Court Justice Lyne Décarie ruled Tuesday. 

Businesses are using AI images, but N.L. artists want them to reconsider

A St. John's artist is trying to get people to think twice before using art made with artificial intelligence.

Sudbury long-term care home still can't admit new residents, six months after provincial order issued

A long-term care home in Sudbury has not been able to admit new residents for six months now, following a provincial order.

Halifax's shared e-bike, scooter pilot causing some accessibility issues, say advocates

In the last week, Tara Niekamp has come across electric scooters from Halifax's new micromobility pilot program parked where they're not supposed to be — in the middle of the sidewalk.

'Significant deficiencies' with public housing sees units sit vacant, auditor general finds

The New Brunswick Housing Corporation does not have systems or practices in place to ensure its 4,630 public housing units are well maintained, safe and habitable for tenants, according to a new report by the auditor general.

Peel police bust trucks carrying some $50M worth of cocaine into GTA

Peel police seized almost $50 million worth of cocaine they say was being trafficked from the U.S. into the Greater Toronto Area in commercial trucks. 

She came to Canada for university, but she'd never been accepted. The scam cost her $7K

With an admission letter to a Quebec university in hand, Aminata flew from Benin, west Africa, to Montreal with $2,000 in her pocket to fulfil her dream of pursuing higher education in Canada.

Why hasn't Sask. called for military help? The province says it needs wildfire expertise

At nearly every one of their daily wildfire media briefings, Saskatchewan officials are asked why they haven't called on the military for support.

P.E.I. strawberry farmer hopeful more Islanders will buy local amid disease concerns

With strawberry season around the corner, one Prince Edward Island farmer is sharing his concerns about a new disease that's affecting some crops.

B.C. government says more oversight coming for dysfunctional municipalities

The ongoing dysfunction in the City of Kamloops has gotten so bad that the B.C. government is considering major changes to the oversight of feuding city councils across the province.

8 years after Tim Hague's death, Alberta failing on combat sport reform, experts say 

Eight years after a deadly boxing match in Edmonton triggered calls for the province to regulate combat sports, Alberta government officials say they need more time to consider the changes. 

10-year-old child killed in North Vancouver boat crash identified

The 10-year-old victim of a speedboat crash in North Vancouver on Saturday evening has been identified as Lionel Hall.

Parking Slot | Free Parking GamePlay Parking Slot, the best online 3D car driving and parking game.Adv.
Slope Ball Run - Play OnlineSlope Game takes you on an exciting journey of a ball on special paths.Adv.
Motorcyclist, 29, dead after crash with TTC bus, vehicle in Etobicoke, police say

A 29-year-old motorcyclist has died after a collision with a bus and a vehicle in Etobicoke on Tuesday, Toronto police say.

Some P.E.I. lobster fishers want 'moderate livelihood' defined, after DFO seizes more traps

Lennox Island First Nation says more lobster traps belonging to its moderate-livelihood fishery were removed from the waters along P.E.I.'s North Shore over the weekend. 

Ex-British soldier gets over 4 years in prison for manslaughter of Winnipeg man in Toronto bar

A former British soldier was sentenced on Tuesday to more than four years in prison for the manslaughter of a Winnipeg businessman in a Toronto bar in August 2023.

Quebec 'closely monitoring' tuberculosis in Nunavik, minister says, as doctors call for more resources

Quebec's health minister says the province's public health service is "closely monitoring" the number of tuberculosis cases in Nunavik, in the wake of a letter from the mayors of the region's 14 Inuit communities calling for the declaration of a public health emergency.

Another Trudeau-appointed senator joins Conservative caucus

Sen. Mary Jane McCallum of Manitoba is now part of the Conservatives' Senate caucus — making her the second senator appointed by former prime minister Justin Trudeau to join the party this month.

District of Squamish declares state of local emergency due to wildfire

The District of Squamish, about 45 kilometres north of Vancouver, has declared a state of local emergency due to an active wildfire.

A Toronto teen lay dying while a 911 caller was on hold. Now, the city is promising a review

The city of Toronto will review an incident where a 911 caller was put on hold for almost seven minutes while a teenage boy was dying from a gunshot wound, the mayor and a top paramedic said on Tuesday. 

New and returning chiefs elected in N.W.T. Tłı̨chǫ communities

Tłı̨chǫ communities held their elections Monday night, voting in new and returning faces to lead their communities for a four-year term.

Carney laments Pride 'backlash' and rolls out money to make 2SLGBTQ+ parades safer

Prime Minister Mark Carney raised a Pride flag on Parliament Hill Tuesday to kick off a month-long celebration of sexual and gender diversity while saying there's a brewing "backlash" to these sorts of celebrations and federal money is needed to help make 2SLGBTQ+ parades safe this year.

OPEC boss slams net-zero targets, promotes big future for oil in Calgary speech

The secretary-general of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries says the world's thirst for oil will continue for decades to come and investment in the sector is necessary to meet those needs.

Ontario bill will protect bad actors in long-term care homes, advocates say

The Ontario government is proposing restricting public access to long-term care (LTC) home inspection reports — a move advocates say will protect bad actors in the sector. 

Murray Harbour Community Centre preps for emergencies with $185K in upgrades

The Murray Harbour Community Centre has received significant renovations to help it better support the community, especially in times of emergency.

© 2008 - 2025 Webjosh  |  News Archive  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us