Ontario judge grants 30-day injunction for safe consumption sites, but site closure remains imminent

As of April 1, 2025, Sanguen’s Consumption and Treatment Services (CTS) site in Kitchener will be closing due to the enactment of Bill 223, which resulted in the loss of provincial funding for all CTS sites, including ours. Additionally, our exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA), which legally permits supervised consumption services, expires on this date. Without this exemption and necessary funding, we are unable to continue operations in their current format despite the temporary injunction.

We find the judge’s acknowledgment of the potential harm caused by these closures hopeful. However, the situation is complex. The absence of provincial funding and the expiration of our CDSA exemption present significant barriers to maintaining services.

Sanguen remains absolutely committed to re-establishing fully funded and legally exempt supervised consumption facilities in our community. These services are integral to harm reduction efforts aimed at mitigating overdose risks and are a fundamental component of the healthcare we believe everyone is entitled to. While we would reopen immediately if we had the necessary exemption, facility, and funding, we will continue working diligently to restore these critical services, should the legal challenge ultimately prove successful.

In the interim, Sanguen remains steadfast in our dedication to harm reduction and community support. We will persist in providing outreach, primary care, peer support, and overdose prevention training to those in need.

For updates on available services and our ongoing efforts, please visit www.sanguen.com