The Ontario government is hiring private investigators amid legal challenges to gather info on supervised consumption sites
Toronto: So, the Ontario government is in a bit of a pickle. They’ve decided to hire private investigators to look into supervised consumption sites. This comes after they faced a legal challenge over plans to close several of these sites.
According to Ema Popovic, a spokesperson for Health Minister Sylvia Jones, they’re bringing in a “third party” to gather evidence. They want to know how these sites impact the community, especially with the ongoing litigation about keeping them open near schools and playgrounds.
Last year, the government pushed through a law that bans these sites from being within 200 meters of schools and daycares. This means five sites in Toronto are set to shut down by the end of March. A social services agency, The Neighbourhood Group, is challenging this law, claiming it violates rights and freedoms.
Bill Sinclair, the CEO of The Neighbourhood Group, mentioned that investigators recently approached staff at their child-care center. They were asking about the Kensington Market Overdose Prevention Site, which is one of the five sites facing closure.
Sinclair found it odd that the investigators didn’t seem to know they were talking to the same organization that runs the site. They left business cards saying they were from an investigative firm hired by a lawyer.
There’s a lot of chatter in the community about these private investigators. Some folks are feeling anxious about being questioned. Rev. Canon Maggie Helwig, who works near one of the sites, noted that while she hasn’t seen the investigators herself, the news has made people uneasy.
She pointed out that this situation only adds to the stigma and anxiety for those using the site. The Ontario government has already looked into these sites twice after a tragic incident in 2023, but neither review suggested closing them.
Sinclair mentioned that the court will hear the charter challenge in March, just before the sites are supposed to close. It’s a tense time for everyone involved.
