Even after the closure of Peel Region’s only supervised consumption site in Brampton, individuals seeking harm reduction support in Mississauga, Brampton, and Caledon will still have access to certain resources.
The Urgent Public Health Need Site in Brampton was originally slated to remain operational under Ontario’s new Community Care and Recovery Act, introduced by the PC Party. The legislation will close 11 safe consumption sites province-wide. However, despite an initial extension granted to Peel Region, the province has reversed course, ordering the facility “to halt drug checking and supervised consumption services” by March 31.
According to a regional report, supervised consumption services will begin phasing out with a two-month transition period starting April 1. During this time, basic first aid, harm reduction supply distribution, education, counseling, and referral services will continue until May 1. After the site fully closes, Peel Region plans to maintain some support through its mobile harm reduction program.
“The Peel Public Health Harm Reduction Program will keep providing free, anonymous, and confidential mobile services from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., Monday through Saturday,” the region announced. “We’re also exploring options to bolster frontline support.” These mobile services include wound care kits, safer drug use supplies, safer sex materials, and containers for safely disposing of needles and other equipment. The region also intends to strengthen its Opioid Strategy alongside community partners, emphasizing prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and justice initiatives.
The mobile harm reduction team will continue offering training, education, and outreach, but services are limited to residents within Peel Region’s boundaries (Mississauga, Brampton, and Caledon).
Located on Peel Centre Drive, the Brampton facility will have operated for just over a year by the time it shuts down. Since opening, it has recorded over 750 visits, providing critical interventions like overdose prevention, supervised consumption, drug checking, clinical care, and support for housing, childcare, and mental health. The site has served more than 210 unique individuals, helping reduce substance-related risks such as overdoses, HIV, hepatitis, and fatalities.
In 2022, Peel’s Regional Council unanimously approved the temporary site, allocating $5.8 million for up to 24 months or until provincial funding was secured. So far, $1.2 million has been drawn from regional reserves, with the report confirming sufficient funds remain to cover operations through the March 31 deadline and the 60-day wind-down period.