R. Deutschmann introduced an amendment to the provided motion that was accepted by the Committee with unanimous consent.
In response to the Committee, Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, Commissioner Public Health & Paramedic Services/Medical Officer of Health, confirmed that the Province dictates the amount of safe consumption and treatment sites in the Region, however, Staff are working to establish a satellite site located in Cambridge.
R. Deutschmann expressed concern with the proposed provincial legislation and that harm reduction services need to be continued to be invested in and supported. He explained that advocacy to the province is essential to ensure these life saving measures are maintained in the Region.
Responding to the Committee, H. Wang explained that Staff cannot currently quantify the future impacts of the closure of the consumption and treatment sites and that the Province has expressed the intention in closing sites that are both funded and not funded by the Province.
The Committee expressed support for the proposed motion and concern with the Provincial decision to close consumption and treatment sites.
In response to the Committee, H. Wang explained that the Federal Government needs to provide an exemption for consumption and supervised treatment sites and then the Province determines if there they will provide funding to the sites. However, the current pending provincial legislation may ban consumption and treatment sites province-wide. Staff are working with community partners to apply and optimize the amount of funding for these services. Additionally, she noted that consumption and treatment sites set for closure are prioritized for the new proposed HART Hub model sites that may receive up to three times the amount of current funding from the Province.
H. Wang estimated that Regional health service usage, such as paramedic services, will be increased with the closure of the sites. She expressed support for the HART Hub model with the addition of harm reduction services.
The Committee noted concerns related to overdoses, prevention, and safety of the surrounding community near the consumption and treatment sites. The Committee also noted that there should be expanded data on drug use in the Region. The Committee further noted that the consumption and treatment site was to address the drug use in the identified "red zones" and it has been effective based on its intended use.
In response to the Committee, H. Wang confirmed that the Region has three to four Urgent Public Health Needs Sites and that they potentially may be closed based on the proposed provincial legislation.
The Committee discussed the effectiveness of consumption and treatments sites, voluntary versus involuntary treatment, and the need for more data to establish further service options.