{"id":20128,"date":"2024-11-27T13:42:49","date_gmt":"2024-11-27T21:42:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drugpolicy.ca\/?p=20128"},"modified":"2024-11-27T13:44:19","modified_gmt":"2024-11-27T21:44:19","slug":"government-of-ontario-attempting-to-force-through-deadly-drug-policy-bill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drugpolicy.ca\/fr\/government-of-ontario-attempting-to-force-through-deadly-drug-policy-bill\/","title":{"rendered":"Government of Ontario Attempting to Force Through Deadly Drug Policy Bill"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This statement can be attributed to the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition, the Drug Strategy Network of Ontario, and the HIV Legal Network.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

November 27, 2024 \u2014 Toronto, ON |<\/strong> We are watching with grave concern as the Government of Ontario attempts to force through radical legislation that will eliminate life-saving supervised consumption services (SCS) and prevent access to other evidence-based responses to an unregulated drug crisis that is killing 10 people in Ontario every single day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We appeal to the government to withdraw their time allocation motion. Experts in the care for people with substance use disorder and other people who use drugs are anxious for the opportunity to speak to Committee about this bill and the devastating effects it will have on Ontarians. The opportunity for such expertise to inform the contents of this Bill is an opportunity afforded by our parliamentary democracy for good reason. It ensures that our laws are informed by evidence and lived experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe government\u2019s attempt on Tuesday to force this devastating bill through the legislature \u2014 without debate or committee study \u2014 sent a very clear messages to all people in this province: democratic process doesn\u2019t matter, evidence doesn\u2019t matter, and the workload of health, medical, social service and first response workers doesn\u2019t matter,\u201d<\/strong> says Michael Parkinson of the Drug Strategy Network of Ontario. \u201cMost frighteningly, the government is saying that people\u2019s lives in Ontario do not matter.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Premier and Health Minister are well aware of the appalling consequences that will follow if these vital health services are prohibited. \u201cThe government has been warned by their own internal counsel of the devastation expected to occur in communities across Ontario, particularly among Black, Indigenous, and low-income people,\u201d<\/strong> says Beeta Senedjani of the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition. \u201cThis bill would legislate an increase in deaths of our loved ones, public drug use in our neighbourhoods, and healthcare costs that will affect all taxpayers.\u201d<\/strong> In bypassing debate and committee review, the Ontario government would silence elected representatives, community members, and public health and scientific experts who would have provided the evidence that SCS are, unequivocally, in the public interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to both internal government advice and independent evaluations, it is widely expected that this proposed law will:<\/p>\n\n\n\n