Ontario Converts Injection Sites to Recovery Hubs

Ontario's government has approved the conversion of nine supervised drug injection sites into Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs, part of a C$378 million investment to create 19 such hubs aimed at improving community safety and access to addiction treatment. These sites, located near schools and childcare centers in cities like Toronto and Hamilton, will close by March 31, 2025, transitioning to provide broader services, including mental health and employment support, without safe injection facilities. The move follows concerns about safety near consumption sites, although some argue it could increase public drug use and overdoses due to fewer supervised spaces. The hubs are expected to receive significantly more funding than the injection sites, supporting the government's commitment to bolstering mental health and addiction services. While nine sites have been approved, the government is still reviewing applications for the remaining hubs, with all expected to be operational by April 2025.