Bill 223: Emergency Webinar Highlights Threats to Harm Reduction Services

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On December 2, 2024, advocates, experts, and residents gathered for an emergency webinar to examine the dire implications of Bill 223 on harm reduction services in Ontario. Moderated by Zoe Dodd, an Indigenous harm reduction activist from the Toronto Overdose Prevention Society, the event provided a critical forum to discuss the bill’s impact on supervised consumption sites and other essential supports. Hosted by the Toronto Overdose Prevention Society, Toronto Indigenous Harm Reduction, and the Harm Reduction Advocacy Collective, the webinar featured meaningful insights from the HIV Legal Network, Moss Park Consumption and Treatment Services (CTS), and Toronto Indigenous Harm Reduction. Speakers addressed the legislation’s legal challenges, emphasizing its potential to dismantle life-saving services for at-risk communities. Participants raised urgent concerns about how Bill 223 could exacerbate challenges for those experiencing addiction and homelessness. The session also highlighted the importance of collective action to protect these services as cornerstones of public health. For neighborhoods like Regent Park, Moss Park and surrounding areas, safeguarding harm reduction programs is not only a health imperative but a vital step toward fostering community well-being and resilience.

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