TAKE ACTION NOW!

Please sign this petition to STOP the distribution of needles, pipes, and drug paraphernalia at 24-hour emergency shelters in Toronto's residential neighbourhoods – misleadingly labeled as "harm reduction kits". Our neighbourhoods deserve real safety, not reckless policies.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow is pushing a yet-to-be-funded nearly $700 million plan to establish 20 new 24-hour emergency shelters sited in Toronto residential neighbourhoods without ANY democratic neighbourhood engagement or consultation. 

The first seven 24-hour emergency shelters are planned (not yet opened) in family-oriented neighbourhoods, near schools and daycares, and will distribute "harm reduction kits" containing needles, pipes, drug paraphernalia, and may also include safe supply drugs (prescription-grade opioids that are often resold on the street in exchange for street-dealer fentanyl and other dangerous drugs fuelling the dangerous illegal drug trade). 

Read how the City of Toronto has planned for "harm reduction" at 24-hour emergency shelters: https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/9633-10PointShelterHarmReduction210528AODA.pdf

The first seven 24-hour emergency shelters planned for Toronto neighbourhoods are as follows:

• 629 Adelaide Street West — Councillor Ausma Malik
• 66 Third Street — Councillor Amber Morley
• 68 Sheppard Avenue West — Councillor Lily Cheng
• 2535 Gerrard Street East — Councillor Parthi Kandaval
• 1615 Dufferin Street — Councillor Alejandra Bravo
• 1220 Wilson Avenue — Councillor James Pasternak
• 2204-2212 Eglinton Avenue West — Councillor Mike Colle

Please watch the video of what the neighbourhood around 629 Adelaide Street West is expecting: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dggD0AHjkjE

Why This Matters

Drug use is NOT ALLOWED inside shelters (unless a shelter has received an exemption under Section 56(1) of the federal Controlled Drugs and Substance Act a streamlined approvals process created during the COVID-19 allowing shelter residents to do illegal drugs on-site).

The City of Toronto distributes "harm reduction kits" for drug use on Toronto streets. These "kits", also distributed by outreach workers and mobile vans, lead to dangerous discarding of needles, pipes, and drug paraphernalia, open drug use, drug dealing, and increased violence in our streets, parks, schools, and local businesses. "Harm reduction" is NOT reducing harm—it’s making it worse.

ILLEGAL DRUG USE IS DESTROYING TORONTO NEIGHBOURHOODS AND OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES.

Toronto City Hall REFUSES to listen.

The City of Toronto Won’t Tell You the Truth

The City of Toronto knows these 24-hour emergency shelters bring crime and public safety risks, in fact, they tell neighbourhoods and businesses where shelters are sited that they will require:

• 24/7 security patrols – What dangers are they expecting?
• Surveillance cameras – Why are cameras needed?
• Conflict de-escalation staff – Why is this even necessary?
• New school fencing – Why do schools need protection from these sites?
• BRASS: Toronto’s shelter violence reporting system – Why is shelter violence an ongoing problem?
• Toronto shelter standards that includes “Prohibited Weapons”— Why are weapons a concern in the first place?
• Toronto Police Services — Why is law enforcement involved in shelter siting? What is the threat to public safety?

We Demand Real Solutions!

Governments must stop enabling drug use and invest in rehabilitation and recovery programs. Our neighbourhoods must not be collateral damage for failed policies.

UPCOMING ELECTIONS–MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT!

• Ontario Provincial Election – Thursday, February 27 – Demand answers from your candidates!
• Federal Election – Just months away! We will not stop fighting for our neighbourhoods.

Please sign the petition and stand up for your neighbourhood today!

THIS MUST STOP NOW!

Thank you for your support. (This is not a fundraising campaign.)