A safe consumption site in Brampton that has served hundreds of people and provided life-saving interventions is set to close next month after the Ontario government declined to extend its funding. The Region of Peel confirmed that the facility, located at 10 Peel Centre Drive, will cease operations on March 31 under new provincial regulations.
The closure follows legislation introduced last year by Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones, which bans safe consumption sites from operating within 200 metres of schools and child care centres, while also enforcing stricter requirements for existing facilities. The Brampton site was initially expected to remain open under the new Community Care and Recovery Act, but the province has since reversed course.
The site, operated by Moyo Health and Community Services, has provided supervised drug consumption, drug-checking services, primary health care, and referrals for housing, mental health support, and addiction treatment. Since its opening, the facility has served more than 210 unique visitors with over 760 visits for supervised consumption and other harm reduction services.
Peel Region reports that opioid toxicity remains a growing crisis, with 705 opioid-related deaths recorded between 2019 and 2023. In just the first nine months of 2024, 70 more opioid-related deaths were reported, alongside hundreds of emergency room visits and hospitalizations.
Despite these statistics, the Ontario government has ordered the closure of 10 safe consumption sites across the province, including locations in Toronto, Ottawa, Kitchener, Hamilton, Thunder Bay, and Guelph. Premier Doug Ford has been a vocal critic of these facilities, citing public safety concerns, despite admitting last year that he had never personally visited one.
Peel Regional Council had previously endorsed funding for the site with a $5.8 million budget, intended to last up to 24 months or until provincial support was secured. A report to council states that there are enough funds to maintain operations until the March 31 closure date, followed by a 60-day transition period to help affected individuals access alternative services.
The report will be discussed at an upcoming Peel Regional Council meeting, where advocates from Moyo Health and Community Services, the Peel Alliance to End Homelessness, and the Peel Poverty Action Group are expected to speak against the closure.
With the site’s shutdown imminent, public health advocates warn that the loss of harm reduction services could worsen the opioid crisis, increasing hospitalizations, overdoses, and preventable deaths in the region.