B.C. politicians watch closely as Ontario changes harm reduction strategy [Video]

When Insite first opened its doors in 2003 in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside it was the first sanctioned supervised drug consumption site in North America.

However, public pressure is pushing changes to harm reduction strategies across the country.

On Monday, the Ontario government passed a law banning sites within 200 metres of a school or child-care facility.

That means 10 consumption sites, including five in Toronto, will close in 2025.

B.C. politicians will be watching closely what happens in Ontario.

“In most of our sites there are no challenges, but in some there are, and we need to work with community to address those challenges,” B.C.’s Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon said on Wednesday.

Consumption sites are only part of B.C.’s strategy to deal with the illicit drug crisis, however, there is a growing sense among the public that these facilities contribute to disruption.

The BC Conservatives said they would impose policies similar to those of Ontario.

“The definition of harm reduction has to include harm on …