Pubdate: Mon, 09 Jan 2017 Source: Toronto Star (CN ON) Copyright: 2017 The Toronto Star Contact: http://www.thestar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456 Author: Jennifer Pagliaro Page: A4 PROVINCE MUST 'STEP UP' ON SAFE INJECTION SITES Minister has yet to confirm funding for life-saving service The federal MP responsible for intergovernmental affairs says the province is standing in the way of supervised injection in Toronto. As B.C. experiences an ongoing crisis in fentanyl overdoses that killed 374 drug users last year, Toronto has requested federal permission to open three supervised injection sites meant to monitor and protect against overdose and disease. The first meeting of the Toronto Overdose Early Warning and Alert Partnership, which will bring together politicians, public health officials, first-responders, the coroner's office, community groups and other stakeholders, is today. The number of all overdose deaths in Toronto grew to unprecedented levels in 2014, increasing by 77 per cent since 2004. Liberal MP Adam Vaughan, a former Toronto city councillor, said his government and Health Minister Jane Philpott have acknowledged the issue is a health emergency. "The minister is adamant that there is no federal hurdle that she will not personally knock down to get these things up and running," he said. "So, the only thing slowing this down is funding from the province." The city has requested the province fund an estimated $350,000 for renovations and annual operating costs of $1.8 million. "We need the other levels of government to now step up," said Councillor Joe Cressy, who heads the drug strategy implementation panel. "The only outstanding pieces required are: one, the federal government to give us the formal exemption . . . and two, for the province of Ontario to confirm that it will fund them." Toronto Public Health said Health Canada recently acknowledged its application and noted that a letter of opinion from the province is among outstanding items. Legislation introduced under the previous government requires applicants to go through an onerous process to request federal exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to operate the sites. The city submitted its application to Health Canada in November. Provincial Health Minister Eric Hoskins has been silent on whether funding will be forthcoming. In an email Thursday, the minister's office said the Liberal government "fully supports any discussion around making our communities safer." The statement said the ministry was working with the city "to review their proposal." Though the email said safe injection sites are "one part of our broader strategy and Ontario is proud to be a leader in responding to addictions and narcotics misuse," there are currently no supervised injection sites operating or funded in the province. The sites looking for approval and funding include the Toronto Public Health-operated The Works at Yonge-Dundas, the Queen West Central Toronto Community Health Centre on Bathurst St. and the South Riverdale Community Health Centre near Carlaw Ave. - - With files from David Rider - --- MAP posted-by: