Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the Canadian government’s safe supply is unsafe. Ford pointed out British Columbia Premier David Eby said it best when he revealed people can go to safe supply places and get endless drugs. “That’s like giving someone a bunch of poker chips, dropping them off at a casino, a gambling addict and say go to town or giving an alcoholic a free pass to the LCBO (Liquor Control Board of Ontario),” said Ford at a Wednesday press conference. “That doesn’t help people.” .Ford started off by saying the Ontario government’s Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs work. While harm reduction activists have pushed for more supervised consumption site (SCS) locations, he said people should not put up with free drugs and needles all over the ground. To justify his stance, he said he has received endless calls, showing him photos of needles by schools and daycares. He added that is unacceptable. If SCS locations are near schools and daycares, the Ontario government will shut them down. Rather than listen to harm reduction activists, he said the Ontario government believes in support and giving people opportunities to get back on their feet, find jobs, learn skilled trades, and get rehabilitated. The Ontario government will be spending $378 million on HART Hubs. When it comes to people struggling with addictions, he said he feels terrible. He predicted there was not one person in the room who does not know another with an addiction. However, he said the Ontario government will help addicts and get them back on their feet. Ford confirmed his other problem is with safe supply. He said addicts need counselling, support, detox beds, rehabilitation, and opportunities. “That is how you help people, not giving them free drugs,” he said. Health Canada said in January cabinet’s safe supply policy has not caused meaningful changes, despite costing more than $820 million. READ MORE: Health Canada says safe drug supply had minimal impact, despite $820 million cost“People have continued to engage in opioid use behaviour that increases risk of harm,” said Health Canada. “Minimal changes since 2017 to rates of high risk substance use suggest further prevention efforts are required.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the Canadian government’s safe supply is unsafe. Ford pointed out British Columbia Premier David Eby said it best when he revealed people can go to safe supply places and get endless drugs. “That’s like giving someone a bunch of poker chips, dropping them off at a casino, a gambling addict and say go to town or giving an alcoholic a free pass to the LCBO (Liquor Control Board of Ontario),” said Ford at a Wednesday press conference. “That doesn’t help people.” .Ford started off by saying the Ontario government’s Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs work. While harm reduction activists have pushed for more supervised consumption site (SCS) locations, he said people should not put up with free drugs and needles all over the ground. To justify his stance, he said he has received endless calls, showing him photos of needles by schools and daycares. He added that is unacceptable. If SCS locations are near schools and daycares, the Ontario government will shut them down. Rather than listen to harm reduction activists, he said the Ontario government believes in support and giving people opportunities to get back on their feet, find jobs, learn skilled trades, and get rehabilitated. The Ontario government will be spending $378 million on HART Hubs. When it comes to people struggling with addictions, he said he feels terrible. He predicted there was not one person in the room who does not know another with an addiction. However, he said the Ontario government will help addicts and get them back on their feet. Ford confirmed his other problem is with safe supply. He said addicts need counselling, support, detox beds, rehabilitation, and opportunities. “That is how you help people, not giving them free drugs,” he said. Health Canada said in January cabinet’s safe supply policy has not caused meaningful changes, despite costing more than $820 million. READ MORE: Health Canada says safe drug supply had minimal impact, despite $820 million cost“People have continued to engage in opioid use behaviour that increases risk of harm,” said Health Canada. “Minimal changes since 2017 to rates of high risk substance use suggest further prevention efforts are required.”
