Ottawa Public Health forced to close ByWard Market drug consumption site

The supervised consumption site on Clarence Street has closed after the province did not endorse a federal exemption. CTV’s Stefan Keyes reports.

A supervised drug consumption site in Ottawa’s ByWard Market is now closed, after the Ontario government did not endorse the renewal of its exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

Ottawa Public Health operated the Safe Consumption Services at 179 Clarence Street since 2017, which was one of three remaining supervised consumption sites in the city.

The Safe Consumption Services site on Clarence Street was authorized to operate until September 30. Ottawa Public Health said it needed the support of Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones to renew its federal exemption to continue operations but did not receive it by the deadline.

“To continue operating after this date, the SCS needed to be renewed for an exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) by Health Canada,” public health said in a statement to CTV News Ottawa.

“Under Ontario’s new Community Care and Recovery Act, OPH cannot apply for this renewal without the endorsement of the provincial Minister of Health, which was not received.”

In a memo to council, Medical Officer of Health Dr. Trevor Arnason said the Ministry of Health did not provide permission to Ottawa Public health to apply to Health Canada for a renewal of exemption prior to Sept. 30.

“OPH is disappointed and concerned about the impact the closure will have on residents who rely on these important services,” Dr. Arnason wrote Wednesday morning.

“Since opening in 2017, the OPH SCS has played a vital role in preventing overdoses, preventing substance use harms, promoting substance use health and importantly, provided a bridge for people who use drugs by connecting them with various health and social supports, including treatment services.

“We are implementing a transition plan with partners and neighbouring Consumption and Treatment Services (CTS) (Ottawa Inner City Health and Sandy Hill Community Health Centre) to help clients continue to have access to care and support.”

Arnason says it is only the supervised consumption and onsite drug checking services that can no longer be provided at 179 Clarence Street.

Since 2017, there have been nearly 33,000 visits to the Clarence Street Supervised Consumption Site, according to Ottawa Public Health. Dr. Arnason said the Clarence Street site has made more than 2,000 referrals to wraparound services, including mental health, substance use, and social supports.

Harm reduction services, including supply distribution, naloxone training and take-home kit provision, STBBI testing and referrals will continue to be provided, Arnason said.

“It is important to note that OPH does not receive funding for the SCS from the Ontario Ministry of Health or Health Canada,” Dr. Arnason said. “No employees will be laid off as a result of the SCS closure, as we are reallocating resources to outreach services in the community.”

Rideau-Vanier Coun. Stephanie Plante says there will still be a supervised safe consumption site 240 metres away at the Shepherds of Good Hope.

“I don’t think this one booth will really affect the users that much. I think they had 11 visits a day, approximately, since they opened,” Plante told Newstalk 580 CFRA’s Ottawa Now with Kristy Cameron.

Plante says she has discussed with Ottawa Public Health about shifting to a supervised inhalation site instead of a supervised consumption site.

“The realty is more people are inhaling,” Plante said.

Casey House in Toronto opened a supervised inhalation space for substance use in 2023.

There are still supervised safe consumption sites in Ottawa at the Sandy Hill Community Health Centre and The Trailer 2.0, operated by Ottawa Inner City Health at the Shepherds of Good Hope.

Health Canada reports there have been 301,560 visits to The Trailer, 78,358 visits to the Sandy Hill Community Health Centre and 49,536 visited to the Somerset West Community Health Centre before it closed.

Earlier this year, the supervised drug consumption site was forced to close at the Somerset West Community Health Centre because of its close proximity to schools and childcare centres.

The Ontario government introduced new rules that prohibits consumptions sites within 200 metres of a school or a childcare facility.

CTV News Ottawa has reached out to the Minister of Health’s office for comment, but hasn’t heard back as of Wednesday afternoon.