Safe consumption site in ByWard Market forced to close

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) officials tried to renew an exemption to continue operating a safe consumption site (SCS) in downtown, but the province never approved it.

Instead, the site at 179 Clarence St., was forced to halt operations on Sept. 30 and closed its doors.

“OPH is disappointed and concerned about the impact the closure will have on residents who rely on these important services,” a memo from Trevor Arnason, the city’s top doctor, reads.

Safe consumption sites allow drug users to safely use or test their products to avoid overdoses. Under Health Canada legislation, OPH is required to apply for exemption; however, in 2024, this approval was changed to go through the Minister of Health.

This change was required when the province forced consumption and treatment services sites located within 200 metres of schools and licenced child-care centres, to transition to Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs or close.

“OPH has not received permission from the provincial Minister of Health to apply to Health Canada for a renewal of the exemption. As a result, OPH can no longer continue to operate the SCS,” the memo reads.

According to the health authority, its staff have been in communication with the Ministry of Health over the last year, asking how to apply for the permission. On Sept. 15, the ministry told OPH it needed to submit a letter, and several days later, staff did. But then the province never approved it.

The program launched in 2017 and since then has had nearly 33,000 visits. Last year alone, it had 3,546 visits and staff were able to respond to 27 non-fatal overdoses.

The health authority notes that the site has “played a vital role in preventing overdoses” and also assisted people in connecting to more supports, like treatment services.

As a result of the sudden closure, people are being directed to other consumption and treatment sites, Inner City Health and Sandy Hill Community Health Centre, and staff are being redistributed. The province’s lack of action only impacts the supervised consumption and onsite drug checking services at the location.

OPH also runs harm reduction, naloxone training, testing and health care system navigation at the building.

“Every effort will be made, within our mandate and existing legislation, to protect the health and safety of all Ottawa residents,” the health agency notes. “OPH recognizes the impact of losing its Supervised Consumption Services as a trusted, low-barrier entry point into the health care system. We will continue engaging with individuals in need, building trust and facilitating access to services to achieve long-term well-being.”