The province has quietly announced that two supervised drug consumption sites in Toronto must close as of Monday.A third site, run by the city, is in limbo but will remain open for now.Amid a continuing overdose crisis in the province’s capital, the Ford government did not explain the closures. The press release, which was posted to the province’s website at 3 p.m. on Friday, said the province would be approving only 15 sites after Minister of Health Christine Elliott earlier promised a review. An accompanying list left off a total of six proposed sites across the province, four of which were already operating.Those that were in operation include the Street Health location at Dundas and Sherbourne Sts. and the site at St. Stephen’s Community House in Kensington Market. Councillor Joe Cressy, who chairs the city’s board of health, said those sites have been notified they can no longer legally open as of Monday morning. Both, he said, are applying to the federal government on an emergency basis to remain open.“This is unacceptable and it is wrong. In the midst of this deadly crisis, we should be opening new sites, not closing the limited number we already have,” said Cressy.“Overdose deaths are preventable. The evidence is clear — supervised consumption sites save people’s lives.”Toronto Public Health’s The Works on Victoria St. was also left off the list. Hayley Chazan, the minister’s spokesperson, clarified that site has been “put on hold pending further review.”A spokesperson for Toronto’s medical officer of health Dr. Eileen de Villa said the office had just received the update from the province about The Works and said they are still in talks with the ministry. “In the meantime, TPH will continue to offer its current supervised consumption services (SCS) and other harm reduction services,” said the spokesperson in an email.“The overdose emergency in Tor ...
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