[{"text": "the list of speakers can be viewed online by visiting the Board of Health page at toronto. Council and click in", "start": 0.84, "end": 7.08}, {"text": "the speakers box for today's meeting the board secretary has provided all agenda materials on toronto.ca councilcouncil", "start": 7.08, "end": 14.32}, {"text": "and V CMP the clerk's meeting portal directors please keep your mic muted", "start": 14.32, "end": 19.72}, {"text": "unless you wish to question staff or speak to an item and ensure that your video is turned on as part of each", "start": 19.72, "end": 26.64}, {"text": "agenda item I will ask directors to raise their hand or mute their mic if they wish to question staff or to speak", "start": 26.64, "end": 33.399}, {"text": "I will then create a speakers list and we call on directors when it is their turn to speak when voting on an item or", "start": 33.399, "end": 39.84}, {"text": "motion I ask directors to ensure that they turn on their video and to raise their hand to indicate their vote", "start": 39.84, "end": 47.199}, {"text": "directors I want to remind you that you must submit your and approve your motions by email staff are available at", "start": 47.199, "end": 54.079}, {"text": "B T.C to help with motions the Board of Health acknowledges", "start": 54.079, "end": 59.76}, {"text": "that the land we are on is the traditional territories of many nations including the missas of the credit the", "start": 59.76, "end": 65.64}, {"text": "ANC the chipa the honi and the wind peoples and is now home to many diverse", "start": 65.64, "end": 70.68}, {"text": "First Nations Inu de M peoples we also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by treaty 13 with the Miss of the", "start": 70.68, "end": 77.92}, {"text": "credit the city of Toronto acknowledges all treaty peoples including those who came here as settlers as migrants either", "start": 77.92, "end": 85.799}, {"text": "in this generation or in tradition's past and those of us who came here in involuntarily particularly those brought", "start": 85.799, "end": 92.28}, {"text": "to these lands as a result of the transatlantic slave trade and slavery we pay tribute to those ancestors of", "start": 92.28, "end": 98.159}, {"text": "African origin and descent are there any Declarations of Interest under Municipal conf of", "start": 98.159, "end": 104.2}, {"text": "Interest act if you have an interest please raise your hand or unmute your mic and indicate the item number and the", "start": 104.2, "end": 110.719}, {"text": "nature of the interest and seeing", "start": 110.719, "end": 115.88}, {"text": "that uh We've convened this special board meeting to tend to a few urgent", "start": 115.88, "end": 121.88}, {"text": "matters ahead of the holiday uh recess as Dr Dilla is retiring as the at the", "start": 121.88, "end": 128.599}, {"text": "end of this year we must move forward with the appointment of an acting medical officer of", "start": 128.599, "end": 134.04}, {"text": "Health also timely is the continuation of our response to provintial changes to", "start": 134.04, "end": 139.879}, {"text": "the regulation of safe consumption sites on November 18th the provincial government officially tabled the safe", "start": 139.879, "end": 146.599}, {"text": "Street strong communities act which includes legisl that will prohibit safe", "start": 146.599, "end": 151.68}, {"text": "consumption sites from operating within 200 met of a school or Child Care Center", "start": 151.68, "end": 157.959}, {"text": "they chose to FastTrack the bill foregoing opportunities for public hearings and on December 4th it was", "start": 157.959, "end": 164.92}, {"text": "officially passed today I have brought forward a motion recommending that our medical", "start": 164.92, "end": 170.599}, {"text": "office of health and I as chair of the Board of Health respond to the legation through a letter to the Ministry of", "start": 170.599, "end": 177.28}, {"text": "Health in the absence of formal public feedback process I understand that the", "start": 177.28, "end": 182.92}, {"text": "passing of the safe Street stronger communities act will have a detrimental impact on many people across the city", "start": 182.92, "end": 191.04}, {"text": "and I am committed to speaking in alignment with the body of research that shows that safe consumption sites save", "start": 191.04, "end": 197.799}, {"text": "lives and are crucial component of substance use", "start": 197.799, "end": 203.08}, {"text": "response so now um before we start the agenda uh we have a new uh business item", "start": 203.08, "end": 209.12}, {"text": "to add which is appointing of an acting medical officer of", "start": 209.12, "end": 214.159}, {"text": "Health Abby you want to move this item all those in favor oppos carried thank you I also", "start": 214.159, "end": 223.08}, {"text": "want to uh reorder the agenda in that item", "start": 223.08, "end": 231.799}, {"text": "three which will be the appointing of the AC medical of health will be now item number two", "start": 234.439, "end": 241.72}, {"text": "um yes that's we going to", "start": 243, "end": 246.879}, {"text": "do okay do I need a motion for that uh Gina uh no as long as there sh consensus", "start": 248.4, "end": 255.239}, {"text": "okay and everyone's okay with that okay wonderful", "start": 255.239, "end": 260.88}, {"text": "um okay I think we need go to post session now for item one or we just need", "start": 260.88, "end": 268.12}, {"text": "to refer that um we do have speakers on item one so uh", "start": 268.12, "end": 273.88}, {"text": "if you wanted to okay that's correct so we do have three speakers on this item", "start": 273.88, "end": 279.199}, {"text": "but I do want to say to the uh uh deput so that we are referring this item to", "start": 279.199, "end": 285.68}, {"text": "the HR committee so if you do still want to speak to it you can do that now or you can do that at a later date when the", "start": 285.68, "end": 293.16}, {"text": "item returns back to the Board of Health and the three speakers this item are Maro UD are you here", "start": 293.16, "end": 301.638}, {"text": "thees Teresa Den are you", "start": 304.72, "end": 311.8}, {"text": "here I'm here Maro UDA I'm here okay did you want to speak to this item today or", "start": 314.919, "end": 320.8}, {"text": "do you want to speak to when it comes back to the board at a later date", "start": 320.8, "end": 327.919}, {"text": "um I if I can do it today that would be great because I", "start": 327.919, "end": 333.84}, {"text": "prepared okay you can okay go ahead five minutes", "start": 333.84, "end": 339.24}, {"text": "okay uh good morning uh given that the board members rely heavily on the", "start": 339.24, "end": 344.56}, {"text": "medical officer of Health for scientific and policy advice selecting the next", "start": 344.56, "end": 350.039}, {"text": "medical officer of health is a very important task that will largely impact the health of citizens of Toronto going", "start": 350.039, "end": 357}, {"text": "forward and since I'm not able to choose the medical officer of Health um I would", "start": 357, "end": 362.88}, {"text": "like to take this time today to just quickly share two criteria I", "start": 362.88, "end": 368.44}, {"text": "have number one my hope is for a medical officer that will be open to listening", "start": 368.44, "end": 374.319}, {"text": "to what I and others have been sharing over the course of the covid-19", "start": 374.319, "end": 379.52}, {"text": "pandemic disident inv voices in particular the growing number of scientists around the world who are", "start": 379.52, "end": 386.12}, {"text": "speaking up against the covid-19 vaccines for example ex Le are critical to listen to in Canada we have the", "start": 386.12, "end": 393.44}, {"text": "Canadian covid Care Alliance and the national citizens", "start": 393.44, "end": 399}, {"text": "inquiry number two my hope is for a medical officer of Health that will", "start": 399, "end": 404.16}, {"text": "independently assess the appropriateness of directives from the wh federal", "start": 404.16, "end": 410.72}, {"text": "agencies and the provincial Ministry of Health these authorities can make", "start": 410.72, "end": 416.12}, {"text": "mistakes sometimes and and can be politically motivated sometimes or have", "start": 416.12, "end": 421.24}, {"text": "ties to Big Pharma we need a medical officer of Health who will take information from", "start": 421.24, "end": 427.56}, {"text": "these authorities and critically assess if it's good for the health of torontonians I acknowledge that the", "start": 427.56, "end": 434.879}, {"text": "science can be confusing because there's some scientists that say this and others that say that and I also acknowledge", "start": 434.879, "end": 441.639}, {"text": "that to do a critical thorough assessment and making the right decision", "start": 441.639, "end": 447.4}, {"text": "100% of the time may not be possible possible however if not sure the medical", "start": 447.4, "end": 453.479}, {"text": "officer of Health could Implement a best option A based on their judgment at the", "start": 453.479, "end": 459.24}, {"text": "time but then carefully check if a actually works by listening to Citizens", "start": 459.24, "end": 466.039}, {"text": "and examining local data and pausing and readjusting if called", "start": 466.039, "end": 472.52}, {"text": "for Action at the local level is so important and your jobs are so", "start": 472.52, "end": 477.8}, {"text": "important increasing in different parts of the world local councils are pushing back against the covid MRNA vaccines for", "start": 477.8, "end": 485.919}, {"text": "example I'll share two examples one is in Australia a local Council um the", "start": 485.919, "end": 492.199}, {"text": "local Council of Port Headland passed a motion in October calling for a halt to", "start": 492.199, "end": 498.68}, {"text": "the uh mRNA vaccines due to DNA contamination and its potential health", "start": 498.68, "end": 504.36}, {"text": "risks to cancer and immune system disruption and in Idaho", "start": 504.36, "end": 510.199}, {"text": "uh in October as well the Southwest District Health Board voted to Halt", "start": 510.199, "end": 516.039}, {"text": "vaccine distribution uh covid vaccine distribution um in its health clinics", "start": 516.039, "end": 522.479}, {"text": "following weeks of public commentary and presentations by Health experts at the", "start": 522.479, "end": 527.68}, {"text": "local Council similarly Toronto Board of Health and the next medical officer of", "start": 527.68, "end": 534.44}, {"text": "Health do not have to blindly follow orders from higher jurisdictions", "start": 534.44, "end": 540.76}, {"text": "Toronto Board of Health and the next medical officer of Health have the power and the moral obligation to protect the", "start": 540.76, "end": 548.56}, {"text": "constituents of Toronto sometimes this will mean following the federal and provincial", "start": 548.56, "end": 556}, {"text": "government uh recommendations other times however this will mean saying no and it would be", "start": 556, "end": 563.12}, {"text": "great if the next medical officer of Health has the skills and is given the time and mandate", "start": 563.12, "end": 570}, {"text": "to do this thank you so much for your time today um I hope you have a good holidays", "start": 570, "end": 577.44}, {"text": "and thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts yeah thank you um the next person that's on the", "start": 577.44, "end": 584.92}, {"text": "list is theres denim are you", "start": 584.92, "end": 589.44}, {"text": "here oh Daniel FR uh this is ter I'm here but I think", "start": 590.6, "end": 597.56}, {"text": "I'll I'll wait until the next meeting when this is brought up in the agenda again okay thank you wonderful thanks uh", "start": 597.56, "end": 605.12}, {"text": "Daniel", "start": 605.12, "end": 607.519}, {"text": "frite okay um because the it there that as I mentioned this item is", "start": 611.56, "end": 619.36}, {"text": "coming back at a later date uh you can choose to speak now or a later date yeah thank you I will I'll come back thank", "start": 619.36, "end": 624.72}, {"text": "you very much okay thank you", "start": 624.72, "end": 629.439}, {"text": "okay so um we are going to refer this to the HR", "start": 648.36, "end": 655.88}, {"text": "committee do any of the members want to speak to this item or ask question of this item if you do may have to go into", "start": 655.88, "end": 662.36}, {"text": "close session councel Thompson go", "start": 662.36, "end": 668.36}, {"text": "ahead I think we probably should go into close session Mr chair", "start": 668.36, "end": 676.12}, {"text": "okay do you have a motion to uh do you want to go to close on this alone or do", "start": 677.72, "end": 683.16}, {"text": "you want to", "start": 683.16, "end": 685.639}, {"text": "go for", "start": 688.24, "end": 692.279}, {"text": "so one moment the clerk is just uh working something", "start": 722.76, "end": 728.16}, {"text": "sure so what we're going to do is item one and two which is the acting medical", "start": 746.04, "end": 753.279}, {"text": "of Health uh we're going to do in Clos session together that way we could", "start": 753.279, "end": 760}, {"text": "um deal with it come back out in public and deal with item three", "start": 760, "end": 767.68}, {"text": "okay procedurally I was just told that that uh because we want to have item one", "start": 806.92, "end": 813.079}, {"text": "and three in close session so I have to hold item one", "start": 813.079, "end": 819.76}, {"text": "down which I will do now and so item three anybody wants well this is also a", "start": 819.76, "end": 825.68}, {"text": "closed session item you want to speak to G you're the clerk so just procedurally more uh it", "start": 825.68, "end": 832.199}, {"text": "was just if there's any members that do have any um you know public questions they can be ask in public first and then", "start": 832.199, "end": 838}, {"text": "we can go into CL also do public questions after", "start": 838, "end": 843.44}, {"text": "right yes we can do public questions after that's correct according to the clerk okay so we'll hold item one down", "start": 843.44, "end": 850.759}, {"text": "item three we will um speak to any public questions on item", "start": 850.759, "end": 856.759}, {"text": "three seeing none so we'll actually go into close session do they have a motion to go into close session um yes we do", "start": 856.759, "end": 863}, {"text": "okay great to read that", "start": 863, "end": 870.839}, {"text": "glasses that the Board of Health recess its public session to meet in closed session to consider HL 19.1 appointment", "start": 871.519, "end": 879.32}, {"text": "of medical House of Health as relates to a personal personal matter pertaining to the appointment of a medical office of", "start": 879.32, "end": 885.44}, {"text": "health and item HL 19.3 appointment of medical appointment of acting medical", "start": 885.44, "end": 890.68}, {"text": "office of Health as it relates to personal matters pertaining to appointment of En acting medical office", "start": 890.68, "end": 895.72}, {"text": "of health so the clerk will um are you moving the motion yeah I moov", "start": 895.72, "end": 903.44}, {"text": "the motion all those in favor poos carried thank", "start": 903.44, "end": 908.839}, {"text": "you so now", "start": 910.839, "end": 915.16}, {"text": "so counselors and directors stand by we just um moving people out of the um into", "start": 933.399, "end": 939.399}, {"text": "the Mr chair public go ahead it's uh Dr Dilla here just asking how will uh will", "start": 939.399, "end": 946.959}, {"text": "clerks notify us when you need us back we can send an email right how's", "start": 946.959, "end": 953.399}, {"text": "itally done Gina um we mob", "start": 953.399, "end": 959.759}, {"text": "if you moved into the lobby the uh you'll be moved back in once the close", "start": 960.72, "end": 966.12}, {"text": "session is over okay perfect thank you", "start": 966.12, "end": 971.56}, {"text": "just bear with us we're still getting live stream up", "start": 1008.72, "end": 1014.24}, {"text": "okay recording is um resumed live stream is up and running again thank you very much okay thank you to the public for", "start": 1022.48, "end": 1028.64}, {"text": "rejoining us uh we're out of uh post session now and back in public", "start": 1028.64, "end": 1034.36}, {"text": "sessions so we're going to vote on item number one which is appointment of", "start": 1034.36, "end": 1040.12}, {"text": "medical officer of Health um we're going to there's a motion that's going be put", "start": 1040.12, "end": 1046.558}, {"text": "on screen to refer this back to the AG our", "start": 1046.559, "end": 1051.2}, {"text": "committee okay there we go all those in favor opposed carried and now item number", "start": 1075.76, "end": 1085.039}, {"text": "three which is appointing of the acting medical officer of Health we're going to", "start": 1086.32, "end": 1093}, {"text": "adopt the recommendation and this item all those in", "start": 1093, "end": 1098.36}, {"text": "favor post carried okay and now we will go to item number two hl1", "start": 1098.36, "end": 1105.44}, {"text": "19.2 responding to the safer Street stronger communi act", "start": 1105.44, "end": 1111.84}, {"text": "words thank you um we do have several speakers of the item first up is Brett", "start": 1111.84, "end": 1119.039}, {"text": "Wilson stco Toronto harm reduction Alliance are you here hello hi you have five minutes go", "start": 1119.039, "end": 1127.08}, {"text": "ahead good morning thank you for the opportunity to speak uh my name is Dr Brett wolson stafco I'm a parent and a", "start": 1127.08, "end": 1133.039}, {"text": "scientist and the co-chair of the Toronto harm reduction Alliance and I've worked in harm reduction for nearly 17 years in Toronto in New York City I've", "start": 1133.039, "end": 1140.799}, {"text": "worked at syringe exchanges supervised consumption sites homeless shelters and conducted research on HIV hepatitis C", "start": 1140.799, "end": 1146.919}, {"text": "and the development of Overdose prevention strategies my opinions today are my own and not necessarily those of", "start": 1146.919, "end": 1152.039}, {"text": "my employer or funders I have family who have struggled with addiction some for over a decade I found one of them the", "start": 1152.039, "end": 1158}, {"text": "first time they overdosed on heroin early in the epidemic before nxone was widely available it was traumatizing and", "start": 1158, "end": 1164.52}, {"text": "terrifying having to give rescue breaths to a teenager with blue lips and a weak pulse luckily EMS arrived quickly and", "start": 1164.52, "end": 1171.159}, {"text": "revived them with the lock Zone sadly many friends colleagues and clients have not been as fortunate and I'm here on", "start": 1171.159, "end": 1176.72}, {"text": "behalf of them and their families to make it known about how devastating the province's so-called Community Care and", "start": 1176.72, "end": 1181.919}, {"text": "Recovery Act will be on the people of Toronto and uh the restrictions on", "start": 1181.919, "end": 1187.039}, {"text": "supervised consumption sites that it entails rates of drug use and addiction in Canada have not increased for over a", "start": 1187.039, "end": 1193}, {"text": "decade the rate has remained constant it is in fact the unpredictable illicit drug Supply driving the overdose death", "start": 1193, "end": 1198.88}, {"text": "rate not more people using drugs this is why supervised consumption sites are so crucial the drug Supply is toxic so we", "start": 1198.88, "end": 1205.76}, {"text": "need to accept people for who they are and provide them the supports needed to help them stay alive and healthy until", "start": 1205.76, "end": 1211.32}, {"text": "they find their way Decades of evidence clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of supervised consumption sites both", "start": 1211.32, "end": 1217.6}, {"text": "internal Ministry reports and taxpayer funded external reports all recognize their public health and Public Safety", "start": 1217.6, "end": 1223.36}, {"text": "benefits neighborhoods with supervised consumption sites in Toronto experienced a two3 reduction in overdose death a 50%", "start": 1223.36, "end": 1230.72}, {"text": "reduction in public injection by unstably housed people and a significant decrease in homicides assaults and", "start": 1230.72, "end": 1237.159}, {"text": "robberies additionally both external reports recommended greater investment in supervised consumption sites not to", "start": 1237.159, "end": 1243.64}, {"text": "close them closing supervised consumption sites will drastically increase the overdose death rate", "start": 1243.64, "end": 1248.919}, {"text": "increase public injection increase the number of discarded syringes in our communities overwhelm both EMS and", "start": 1248.919, "end": 1255.12}, {"text": "hospitals and may needlessly create mass casualty incidents supervised consumption sites in Toronto", "start": 1255.12, "end": 1262}, {"text": "right now respond to approximately 2,700 overdoses per year if we conservatively", "start": 1262, "end": 1267.72}, {"text": "estimate that 10% of these overdoses would be fatal had they occurred in the streets Toronto's overdose death rate", "start": 1267.72, "end": 1273.44}, {"text": "would increase by 50% we would go from 525 deaths a year to", "start": 1273.44, "end": 1278.88}, {"text": "795 this again is a conservative estimate I fear it might be higher the auditor general report released this", "start": 1278.88, "end": 1285.36}, {"text": "summer on Toronto Paramedic Services found that there were 12 100 times an ambulance was not available for someone", "start": 1285.36, "end": 1291.279}, {"text": "in need in 2023 that means people in car accidents people having heart attacks children having severe allergic", "start": 1291.279, "end": 1297.559}, {"text": "reactions already cannot get the life-saving emergency care that they need and this problem is only going to", "start": 1297.559, "end": 1302.64}, {"text": "be exacerbated one supervised consumption sites are closed instead of overdoses being addressed indoors at", "start": 1302.64, "end": 1309.76}, {"text": "supervised consumption sites paramedics will be responding to overdoses in Alleyways business washrooms and on", "start": 1309.76, "end": 1314.84}, {"text": "people's front porches creating even further strain on Paramedic Services there's also no evidence suggesting that", "start": 1314.84, "end": 1321.12}, {"text": "heart hubs will be effective at preventing overdose deaths their alleged role is to refer people to detox drug", "start": 1321.12, "end": 1326.88}, {"text": "treatment and housing all of which are not available because the province has refused to invest in them besides", "start": 1326.88, "end": 1333.24}, {"text": "supervised consumption sites homeless shelters and community health centers are already making all of these", "start": 1333.24, "end": 1338.36}, {"text": "referrals the key difference is that these heart hubs will be forbidden to provide any harm reduction supports", "start": 1338.36, "end": 1344.039}, {"text": "while people wait months or even years for these essential services this is going to increase h hi and hepc as well", "start": 1344.039, "end": 1349.799}, {"text": "as overdose deaths and the strains on Emergency Services in closing I'd", "start": 1349.799, "end": 1355.24}, {"text": "request that the chair the Board of Health and the medical officer of Health engaged the city's solicitor about legal", "start": 1355.24, "end": 1361.039}, {"text": "responses to challenge relevant parts of the community care and Recovery Act in regards to restrictions to supervised", "start": 1361.039, "end": 1366.2}, {"text": "consumption sites and report back to the Board of Health by December 18th additionally I request that the chair", "start": 1366.2, "end": 1371.559}, {"text": "and the Board of Health immediately advise mayor chow and the rest of the city council about the health implications of this community care and", "start": 1371.559, "end": 1378.12}, {"text": "recover react for Toronto and Toronto Public Health lastly I asked the Board of Health uh I asked the Board of Health", "start": 1378.12, "end": 1385.08}, {"text": "to instruct their chair to put a motion before city council at the next city council meeting to legally challenge the community care and Recovery Act which", "start": 1385.08, "end": 1391.679}, {"text": "encroaches on the jurisdiction of the city to protect the health and safety of its residents mourn the dead and fight", "start": 1391.679, "end": 1398.52}, {"text": "like hell for the living thank you for your time thank you any questions for deput see none thank you next up is uh", "start": 1398.52, "end": 1407.72}, {"text": "Nick Hill Carver Hill are you", "start": 1407.72, "end": 1413.08}, {"text": "here Nick Carver Hill Callum Houston are you here Nick is", "start": 1414.799, "end": 1423.12}, {"text": "here Nick is here yes hello goe five five minutes go", "start": 1423.12, "end": 1428.559}, {"text": "ahead uh thanks for having me Board of Health my name is Nick Carver Hill and I'm appearing before you first and foremost as a community member who cares", "start": 1428.559, "end": 1434.96}, {"text": "for and cherishes the people of my life my neighborhood and my city who happen to use drugs I'm one of those people", "start": 1434.96, "end": 1441.36}, {"text": "although I am shielded by class and racial privilege from being criminalized and marginalized in the ways that many others are professionally I've worked in", "start": 1441.36, "end": 1448.559}, {"text": "three of the city supervised consumption sites as a health promoter and overdose response worker as well as in community- based public health research I also lead", "start": 1448.559, "end": 1455.32}, {"text": "substance use and addictions policy for the Ontario division of the Canadian Mental Health Association While My Views", "start": 1455.32, "end": 1460.76}, {"text": "are informed by these experiences I speak on my own behalf today December is an especially difficult month for the", "start": 1460.76, "end": 1466.039}, {"text": "many of us who have lost loved ones friends and beloveds to the toxic drug poisoning crisis they are dearly missed", "start": 1466.039, "end": 1471.64}, {"text": "with particular intensity as the holidays approach thus as I often do in my own home I want to come I want to", "start": 1471.64, "end": 1477.399}, {"text": "name and invite a number of a small number of our ancestors to join us in this space as we plead for this board to take action on the motion before us Noah", "start": 1477.399, "end": 1485.919}, {"text": "Angie James Alexis Mark Michelle", "start": 1485.919, "end": 1493.32}, {"text": "Dan Jeff they were and are parents siblings", "start": 1493.32, "end": 1499.559}, {"text": "friends Aunts Uncles children lovers and intrinsically and unconditionally worthy", "start": 1499.559, "end": 1506.24}, {"text": "of Love dignity and belonging at this point you must all be well aware that supervised consumption sites are one of", "start": 1506.24, "end": 1511.919}, {"text": "the strongest evidence-based interventions that we have to connect people who use drugs with care and wraparound Services prevent drug", "start": 1511.919, "end": 1518.12}, {"text": "poisoning deaths reduce the spread of trans transmissible disease and decrease the likelihood of public drug use and", "start": 1518.12, "end": 1524.2}, {"text": "overdose the provincial government's own expert findings demonstrate that closing SCS will very likely lead to an increase", "start": 1524.2, "end": 1529.88}, {"text": "in pressure on our emergency departments and Paramedic Services lead to increase in public drug use and improperly", "start": 1529.88, "end": 1534.919}, {"text": "discarded drug gear and deaths due to overdose it is also very likely Based on data from various jurisdictions across", "start": 1534.919, "end": 1540.559}, {"text": "the province that supervised consumption sites help improve Community safety indeed in Toronto data shows decreases", "start": 1540.559, "end": 1546}, {"text": "in rates of homicide assault and robbery in the vicinity of scss after opening in", "start": 1546, "end": 1551.12}, {"text": "order to escape the Terrors of our decades long toxic drug crisis we need the full spectrum of services from harm", "start": 1551.12, "end": 1556.84}, {"text": "reduction to treatment and recover y not just one or the other this past Thursday the UN Human Rights Chief reiterated", "start": 1556.84, "end": 1562.88}, {"text": "that quote the War on Drugs has failed completely and utterly and in the process has quote destroyed countless", "start": 1562.88, "end": 1568.52}, {"text": "lives and damaged entire communities this policy would be a continuation of that shameful Legacy and just as with", "start": 1568.52, "end": 1574.08}, {"text": "other aspects of this failed approach to substance use the effects of the closure of supervised consumption sites will most disproportionately affect lowincome", "start": 1574.08, "end": 1580.919}, {"text": "black indigenous and Deb gender diverse clients the clients who I've spoken to about the closure of these sites are in", "start": 1580.919, "end": 1586.679}, {"text": "are in turn terrified and ex exasperated although abandonment to death is a familiar feeling for Toronto's community", "start": 1586.679, "end": 1593.12}, {"text": "of people who use drugs I urge you to reject the inevitability of this provincial legislation and the structural violence it will inflict on", "start": 1593.12, "end": 1599.2}, {"text": "our most vulnerable community members we all stand to suffer if supervised consumption sites close in our city the", "start": 1599.2, "end": 1605.399}, {"text": "choice before us is either to save our sites or to fill our morgs ambulances and emergency rooms as such I also urge", "start": 1605.399, "end": 1612.799}, {"text": "the Board of Health to instruct the board chair and the medical officer of Health to engage the city solicor about legal responses to challenge the", "start": 1612.799, "end": 1618.679}, {"text": "community care and Recovery Act and report back to the board by December 18th second to instruct the medical", "start": 1618.679, "end": 1623.799}, {"text": "officer of Health to immediately advise city council including the mayor about the health implications of the community", "start": 1623.799, "end": 1628.84}, {"text": "care and Recovery Act uh for Toronto and Toronto public health and third and finally to instruct the board chair to", "start": 1628.84, "end": 1634.88}, {"text": "put a motion before city council at the next council meeting to legally challenge the community can Recovery Act which encroaches on the jurisdiction of", "start": 1634.88, "end": 1641.24}, {"text": "the city and its ability to protect the health safety and well-being of all of its residents thank you for your time", "start": 1641.24, "end": 1647}, {"text": "and attention thank you any questions for dep deput sing n thank you for", "start": 1647, "end": 1652.36}, {"text": "coming in today uh Callum Houston are you", "start": 1652.36, "end": 1657.039}, {"text": "here Callum", "start": 1658.039, "end": 1661.36}, {"text": "Houston okay uh Patrick Murray this is the host Callum is here he's just unmuting himself okay go ahead", "start": 1665.919, "end": 1672.72}, {"text": "five minutes hi uh my name is Callum Houston thank you for having me uh I'm Community", "start": 1672.72, "end": 1679.48}, {"text": "activist around harm reduction and I'm just here to reiterate what has already", "start": 1679.48, "end": 1685}, {"text": "been talked about by my by the previous speakers the Ontario government has", "start": 1685, "end": 1690.48}, {"text": "decided to introduce Bill 223 knowing that even from their own experts there", "start": 1690.48, "end": 1695.799}, {"text": "is a high risk it will increase emergency department visits overdose overdose deaths and other negative", "start": 1695.799, "end": 1702.48}, {"text": "Health implant impacts as well as public as well as public use and disproportionately harm indigenous black", "start": 1702.48, "end": 1710.159}, {"text": "and lowincome people in Ontario ample studies including internal government reports and independent", "start": 1710.159, "end": 1717.44}, {"text": "evaluations consistently demonstrate a range of Public Health and Public Safety benefits of scss according to a recent", "start": 1717.44, "end": 1725.039}, {"text": "report on sces in Ontario Ontario's supervised consumption Services have", "start": 1725.039, "end": 1731.24}, {"text": "have recorded 1.12 million visits from AC from", "start": 1731.24, "end": 1736.48}, {"text": "178,000 unique CL since March 2020 and have facilitated more than", "start": 1736.48, "end": 1742.519}, {"text": "530,000 service referrals including housing case management and substance", "start": 1742.519, "end": 1748.64}, {"text": "use treatment and they've successfully reversed 22,000 overdoses scss also", "start": 1748.64, "end": 1755}, {"text": "reduce public drug use and discarded drug use equipment contrary to the Ontario government's belief that crime", "start": 1755, "end": 1762.399}, {"text": "has increased in neighborhoods with SCS relative to other neighborhoods data shows decreases in rates of homicide", "start": 1762.399, "end": 1769.559}, {"text": "assault and robbery in the vicinity of an SCS after opening moreover a recent", "start": 1769.559, "end": 1775.279}, {"text": "report from the office of the auditor general of Ontario found that the decision to close sces was made without", "start": 1775.279, "end": 1782.44}, {"text": "proper planning impact analysis or public consultations and is not based on", "start": 1782.44, "end": 1788.039}, {"text": "any evidence according to Media reporting the onaral government has been warned by", "start": 1788.039, "end": 1794.039}, {"text": "their own lawyers that municipalities may be critical of the Province limiting their autonomy in addressing the opioid", "start": 1794.039, "end": 1801.12}, {"text": "crisis and that the prohibit of scss within 200 meters of a school or Child", "start": 1801.12, "end": 1807.2}, {"text": "Care Center creates a high risk of infringing on the charter specifically the advice laid out that section seven", "start": 1807.2, "end": 1813.799}, {"text": "of the charter life liberty security of the person of site users could be", "start": 1813.799, "end": 1819.2}, {"text": "contravened in order to win win a charter challenge they indicated that the government would have to demonstrate", "start": 1819.2, "end": 1825.279}, {"text": "that the operation of an SCS is always unsafe or harmful even when operated", "start": 1825.279, "end": 1831}, {"text": "under reasonable conditions which is not supported by evidence again given the unpredictable disproportionate impact on", "start": 1831, "end": 1837.96}, {"text": "people who use drugs especially indigenous black and low-income people it could also be argued that the bill", "start": 1837.96, "end": 1843.679}, {"text": "violate section 15 of the charter that protects individuals against discrimination in light of this we urge", "start": 1843.679, "end": 1851.08}, {"text": "the Board of Health to instruct the board the board chair and medical officer of Health to engage the city", "start": 1851.08, "end": 1857.36}, {"text": "solicitor about legal responses to challenge the community care and Recovery Act and report back to the", "start": 1857.36, "end": 1863.76}, {"text": "board by December 18th instruct the medical officer of Health to immediately advise city council including the mayor", "start": 1863.76, "end": 1871.279}, {"text": "about the public health implications of the community care and Recovery Act for Toronto and Toronto public health and", "start": 1871.279, "end": 1878.44}, {"text": "finally instruct the board chair to put a motion before city council at the end of at the next council meeting to", "start": 1878.44, "end": 1884.76}, {"text": "legally challenge the community care and Recovery Act which because it encroaches on the jurisdiction of the city to", "start": 1884.76, "end": 1891.399}, {"text": "protect the health and safety of its residents I urge you you all to make the right decision the moral decision thank", "start": 1891.399, "end": 1897.679}, {"text": "you thank you any questions for depent see none thank you uh Patrick Murray you", "start": 1897.679, "end": 1905.679}, {"text": "here Patrick", "start": 1905.72, "end": 1909.039}, {"text": "Murray hello everyone can you hear me yes five minutes go ahead great uh hi", "start": 1915.559, "end": 1921.76}, {"text": "everyone my name is Patrick Murray I am an overdose prevention support worker", "start": 1921.76, "end": 1927.48}, {"text": "and I am also a recovering crystal meth addict um I usually save that last piece", "start": 1927.48, "end": 1934.6}, {"text": "of my intro for meetings that are a bit more Anonymous but uh it seems relevant to", "start": 1934.6, "end": 1942.36}, {"text": "the discussion today uh especially because I here to personally attest that despite the", "start": 1942.36, "end": 1948.84}, {"text": "provincial government's misinformation harm reduction and abstinence do not exist in", "start": 1948.84, "end": 1956.08}, {"text": "opposition uh harm reduction was my foot in the door to recovery and I don't know if I", "start": 1956.08, "end": 1962.639}, {"text": "would be here speaking with you today if it wasn't there which is why I'm asking the Board of Health to legally challenge", "start": 1962.639, "end": 1969.44}, {"text": "the community care and Recovery Act when I was 23 years old I accessed harm", "start": 1969.44, "end": 1974.919}, {"text": "reduction services for the first time without knowing it I was new to intravenous drug use and I", "start": 1974.919, "end": 1983.36}, {"text": "didn't I remember messaging someone saying like where do you buy needles um I didn't know what size they", "start": 1983.36, "end": 1989.44}, {"text": "were supposed to be um I didn't know anything uh and I was told to go to", "start": 1989.44, "end": 1994.559}, {"text": "Casey house where I could get them for free so I did uh the second time I", "start": 1994.559, "end": 1999.639}, {"text": "injected I missed my vein um which I didn't know either I just knew that it", "start": 1999.639, "end": 2006.6}, {"text": "burned and it hurt and I was scared uh I thought I was dying and I", "start": 2006.6, "end": 2012.519}, {"text": "thought that I was going to lose my arm I had no idea I went to an emergency", "start": 2012.519, "end": 2018.799}, {"text": "room uh and the nurse triaging me there was kind and she said I was going to be", "start": 2018.799, "end": 2026.6}, {"text": "okay uh and that's really what I remember from that night I remember being scared I remember being alone I", "start": 2026.6, "end": 2033.519}, {"text": "remember someone being kind", "start": 2033.519, "end": 2037.639}, {"text": "uh my first foray into recovery was through the camh rainbow program which", "start": 2038.88, "end": 2044.639}, {"text": "was also a harm reduction model where we could identify substances of concern what goals we had I knew I wasn't", "start": 2044.639, "end": 2052.118}, {"text": "interested in that at that time in any program that involved quitting drinking or smoking marijuana so camh offered me", "start": 2052.119, "end": 2059.04}, {"text": "a safe place to discuss the things I had been too scared to tell anyone about this is usually the part of my", "start": 2059.04, "end": 2066.919}, {"text": "story where I skip ahead to when I went to treatment and got sober and stayed sober which I did um but that was two", "start": 2066.919, "end": 2074.079}, {"text": "years later and it's hard to explain or remember uh two years when uh it's kind", "start": 2074.079, "end": 2083.04}, {"text": "of like having the worst day ever but it's two years um when I finally was", "start": 2083.04, "end": 2090.32}, {"text": "ready to ask for help again uh my parents signed a check I was", "start": 2090.32, "end": 2095.839}, {"text": "able to choose the day I went to treatment and that was $30,000 I'm not ashamed of my previous", "start": 2095.839, "end": 2103.359}, {"text": "struggle with crystal meth it has actually made me uniquely capable to work in harm", "start": 2103.359, "end": 2109.8}, {"text": "reduction uh in recovery we often say the opposite", "start": 2109.8, "end": 2116.4}, {"text": "of addiction isn't sobriety the opposite of addiction is connection and the", "start": 2116.4, "end": 2123.4}, {"text": "connections I've made working in harm reduction have been invaluable to my recovery and the recovery of my friends", "start": 2123.4, "end": 2131.64}, {"text": "and neighbors who use drugs", "start": 2131.64, "end": 2137.839}, {"text": "um harm reduction to me is so much more than preventing preventing overdoses and", "start": 2137.92, "end": 2144.56}, {"text": "saving lives um often I can't really wrap my head around the fact that part", "start": 2144.56, "end": 2151.4}, {"text": "of my job is saving people's lives uh I think because then that means", "start": 2151.4, "end": 2156.64}, {"text": "conceptualizing the the fact that those lives could be lost and those lives are people I care", "start": 2156.64, "end": 2163.16}, {"text": "about um okay well I'm gonna try to get", "start": 2163.28, "end": 2168.92}, {"text": "through a note someone wrote me good luck on that um okay so this is a a note", "start": 2168.92, "end": 2175.28}, {"text": "I have on my fridge that a client wrote me which is just that um there was and", "start": 2175.28, "end": 2180.52}, {"text": "have been days I just want to break down and cry and give in but I walk through the doors of the", "start": 2180.52, "end": 2186.28}, {"text": "safe injection and seeing you there and just having a two-minute talk with you put all my hurts tears and doubts aside", "start": 2186.28, "end": 2194.28}, {"text": "I've been so lost losing my husband to Jail the only other person who gives me life and no matter what decision is made", "start": 2194.28, "end": 2201.079}, {"text": "or where we end up going uh you will always have a space in", "start": 2201.079, "end": 2206.48}, {"text": "my heart and one last thing don't stop helping people who need the help so I'm asking you to do everything you can to", "start": 2206.48, "end": 2213.52}, {"text": "let us keep helping people thank you thank you Patrick that was", "start": 2213.52, "end": 2219.64}, {"text": "heartfelt um any questions for the depent seeing none thank you for sharing", "start": 2219.64, "end": 2225.96}, {"text": "much appreciated uh Dane Kent are you", "start": 2225.96, "end": 2231.88}, {"text": "here yes I am here go ahead you have five", "start": 2235.04, "end": 2240.319}, {"text": "minutes apologize for the ad hoc nature of my deputation today the child we", "start": 2240.319, "end": 2245.599}, {"text": "expected tomorrow arrived yesterday so so uh I'm in St Mike's hospital um", "start": 2245.599, "end": 2250.8}, {"text": "congratulations thank you very much um I just I wanted to take a few moments", "start": 2250.8, "end": 2255.92}, {"text": "today um to talk to uh the counselors on the board um our", "start": 2255.92, "end": 2262.28}, {"text": "our elected representatives and and explore the underlying reasons why people get into politics in the first", "start": 2262.28, "end": 2268.96}, {"text": "place and I believe um that people get into politics kind of a sense of a sense", "start": 2268.96, "end": 2276.48}, {"text": "of conviction for good and um the desire to leave a lasting impact and Legacy on the communities", "start": 2276.48, "end": 2282.76}, {"text": "that elect them and I I feel the council today has arrived at a point at which", "start": 2282.76, "end": 2290.44}, {"text": "the decisions they make will affect the trajectory of that Legacy going forward um you're going to hear a lot from a lot", "start": 2290.44, "end": 2297.359}, {"text": "of different people today regarding the implications of the closure and the nuts and bolts of all of this sort of stuff", "start": 2297.359, "end": 2303.04}, {"text": "but what I really want to talk about is the impact that this Council can have", "start": 2303.04, "end": 2308.119}, {"text": "on on the city going forward and and how this Council and the representatives on", "start": 2308.119, "end": 2313.96}, {"text": "it will be remembered um in the future as we look back I think people enter", "start": 2313.96, "end": 2319.079}, {"text": "into politics because they want to be a force for good and I I think in in a", "start": 2319.079, "end": 2325.119}, {"text": "political life if you are acting as a representative in a", "start": 2325.119, "end": 2331.28}, {"text": "moment when there is a there is a big difficult decision to make when the odds are stacked against you and when you and", "start": 2331.28, "end": 2339.16}, {"text": "your sense of conviction proceive forward in a manner that", "start": 2339.16, "end": 2345.68}, {"text": "identifies a positive outcome in the face of perhaps misinformed", "start": 2345.68, "end": 2351.56}, {"text": "opposition I think it's imperative for this Council to take the steps necessary to", "start": 2351.56, "end": 2357.28}, {"text": "enshrine and make sure that we're we're preventing the closures of these CTS sites you know the decision you make", "start": 2357.28, "end": 2365.68}, {"text": "today if you decide continue to find the money to to fund", "start": 2365.68, "end": 2373.2}, {"text": "the sites in the city that that have exemptions that haven't expired yet some some have exemptions that aren't expiring for another two", "start": 2373.2, "end": 2380}, {"text": "years if those sites could be funded in the face of an injunction for sure you're GNA some", "start": 2380, "end": 2386.56}, {"text": "people call your office and say I can't believe you've done this and you're GNA have people call your office and say I'm so thankful that you've done this but if", "start": 2386.56, "end": 2392.76}, {"text": "you choose to do nothing and you choose to allow these sites to close in six 8", "start": 2392.76, "end": 2398.64}, {"text": "months 12 months from now you'll still be getting phone calls but those phone calls will be people complaining about", "start": 2398.64, "end": 2404.16}, {"text": "the proliferation of discarded paraphernalia in their parks and laneways in schoolyards their call those", "start": 2404.16, "end": 2410.119}, {"text": "calls will be about people feeling a sense of loss at family members who", "start": 2410.119, "end": 2415.44}, {"text": "didn't have an ambulance arrive in time people are going to be calling about the overcrowding and emergency room", "start": 2415.44, "end": 2421.56}, {"text": "departments There's an opportunity here to have at least some impact some positive outcome on on the systems in", "start": 2421.56, "end": 2428.52}, {"text": "our our city on the sense of support that our most marginalized citizens feel", "start": 2428.52, "end": 2435.599}, {"text": "uh from their elected representatives and fundamentally to be looked back upon as a council that stood", "start": 2435.599, "end": 2441.119}, {"text": "up to a a government that was making decisions based on ideology as opposed", "start": 2441.119, "end": 2446.839}, {"text": "to evidence and a council that can be remembered as having a lasting impact", "start": 2446.839, "end": 2451.92}, {"text": "and a positive effect on V swaths of this community in this city um in a way", "start": 2451.92, "end": 2458.56}, {"text": "that that will be remembered um as as a a council with courage and I encourage", "start": 2458.56, "end": 2465.44}, {"text": "you to explore what your legacy might look like and how you may be", "start": 2465.44, "end": 2471.44}, {"text": "remembered thank you thank you B any questions", "start": 2471.44, "end": 2478.599}, {"text": "for say none thank you uh Megan white you here", "start": 2478.599, "end": 2486.68}, {"text": "Megan white five minutes go", "start": 2488.079, "end": 2495.599}, {"text": "ahead hello uh firstly I would like to", "start": 2495.599, "end": 2500.88}, {"text": "acknowledge those who we've lost due to the toxic drug Supply Caitlyn Phillip", "start": 2500.88, "end": 2506.68}, {"text": "Emily Greg Eddie Michelle Mark Vanessa", "start": 2506.68, "end": 2511.8}, {"text": "Danielle Kyle Joe Alex Sarah to name a few", "start": 2511.8, "end": 2518.68}, {"text": "all of us know cts's are not a fix to the opioid epidemic rather an essential", "start": 2518.68, "end": 2523.839}, {"text": "health care service for those impacted by it a service in desperate need of", "start": 2523.839, "end": 2528.92}, {"text": "expansion so the evidence says but we've come to live in a world that prioritizes harmful rhetoric and stigma over saving", "start": 2528.92, "end": 2536}, {"text": "human lives it could go over the statistics and evidence that were so blatantly", "start": 2536, "end": 2541.92}, {"text": "overlooked and ignored by the premier and minister of Health but I want to humanize the numbers", "start": 2541.92, "end": 2547.72}, {"text": "we have all been made so familiar with I wanted to speak here today on behalf of those who will be most impacted by the", "start": 2547.72, "end": 2554.52}, {"text": "bill by Bill", "start": 2554.52, "end": 2558}, {"text": "223 I've had the privilege of being front a Frontline worker at one of Toronto's cts's that are slated for", "start": 2560.319, "end": 2567.839}, {"text": "closure for about 3 and a half years working in the site I've met individuals who bring such an Irreplaceable uni", "start": 2567.839, "end": 2575.72}, {"text": "uniqueness to the world", "start": 2575.72, "end": 2579.119}, {"text": "on August 20th these same people were handed a death sentence by the very system meant to implement Services based", "start": 2582.04, "end": 2588.16}, {"text": "off the evidence and statistics provided to them to show what is needed throughout our communities eight people", "start": 2588.16, "end": 2595.24}, {"text": "in our city are likely to die today right now they're functioning as", "start": 2595.24, "end": 2600.48}, {"text": "we are conversing sharing stories engaging with their Community attempting to have their basic", "start": 2600.48, "end": 2607.119}, {"text": "needs met they'll likely pass people who will give them looks of dismay as if their obvious disapproval raises a", "start": 2607.119, "end": 2613.4}, {"text": "pedestal and grants them some sort of tangible hierarchy this will happen more than", "start": 2613.4, "end": 2618.48}, {"text": "once and hopefully before their final moments come they'll have the opportunity to come into a CTS like the", "start": 2618.48, "end": 2624.64}, {"text": "one that I work in where they will be met with smiles snacks and empathy we'll learn their name and listen to whatever", "start": 2624.64, "end": 2631.52}, {"text": "they're willing to share they'll have a moment of solitude and comfort before the hours of our essential life-saving", "start": 2631.52, "end": 2637.839}, {"text": "service has to close its doors and that is when an entire Community is left without a Lifeline at the very least in", "start": 2637.839, "end": 2644.8}, {"text": "the city of Toronto folks are left for 10 hours without an open CTS that is 10", "start": 2644.8, "end": 2650.52}, {"text": "hours a community will have to have the daunting task of keeping each other alive responding to their friends as", "start": 2650.52, "end": 2656.64}, {"text": "they lie lifeless some will use a loan and out of those few some will make it until the until we open our doors and", "start": 2656.64, "end": 2663.839}, {"text": "some will be a part of the eight we lose a day in the of Toronto as of April 1st", "start": 2663.839, "end": 2669.48}, {"text": "10 hours will become 24/7 the number of deaths will Skyrocket the immense amount", "start": 2669.48, "end": 2674.52}, {"text": "of grief felt amongst the community is going to continue to become unbearable the trust was the trust that", "start": 2674.52, "end": 2681.48}, {"text": "was developed between staff and clients of the cts's will not be recreated", "start": 2681.48, "end": 2687.52}, {"text": "Within These heart hubs the trust that was developed led to many folks getting connected with primary care Housing", "start": 2687.52, "end": 2694.8}, {"text": "Services case management and many other services that have had positive impacts on people's health health outcomes we", "start": 2694.8, "end": 2703.079}, {"text": "focused heavily on the children in these scenarios but I beg to question why there are so many children being left", "start": 2703.079, "end": 2708.52}, {"text": "out of the conversation I consider myself one of these children 27 years", "start": 2708.52, "end": 2714.76}, {"text": "old but still the child of someone who uses drugs so why does the fear of what is", "start": 2714.76, "end": 2722.48}, {"text": "the fear of one person's child seeing the pain of another weigh the pain the", "start": 2722.48, "end": 2728.559}, {"text": "fear outweigh my fear of being contacted about my father's death when does Community start to", "start": 2728.559, "end": 2735.92}, {"text": "include all of us I would implore the medical officer of Health to immediately", "start": 2735.92, "end": 2741.04}, {"text": "advise city council including the mayor Olivia Chow about the negative implications this bill will have on", "start": 2741.04, "end": 2747.119}, {"text": "Toronto and Toronto Public Health collectively as both professional and those living with", "start": 2747.119, "end": 2753.559}, {"text": "experience stress the importance that the board put forth request for the chair to put a motion before city", "start": 2753.559, "end": 2759.8}, {"text": "council at the next council meeting to legally challenge Community Care to immediately challenge the community care", "start": 2759.8, "end": 2765.76}, {"text": "and Recovery Act which encroaches the on the jur jurisdiction on of the city and their", "start": 2765.76, "end": 2772.839}, {"text": "ability to protect health and and the ability to protect the health and safety of those of whom reside within its", "start": 2772.839, "end": 2780.04}, {"text": "borders thank you thank you very much Megan any questions for the sing none", "start": 2780.04, "end": 2787.599}, {"text": "uh Marina Classen Marina", "start": 2787.599, "end": 2794.319}, {"text": "Classen hey hey folks can you hear me yes we can go ahead you have five", "start": 2794.319, "end": 2800.119}, {"text": "minutes all right good morning Board of Health thank", "start": 2800.119, "end": 2807.04}, {"text": "you for the opportunity to speak with you this morning my name is Marina Clawson I'm a Frontline harm reduction", "start": 2807.04, "end": 2813.16}, {"text": "social worker I've worked in this field for the past 10 years and I'm here to speak to you about the", "start": 2813.16, "end": 2818.72}, {"text": "need to protect and keep operational life-saving harm reduction services in our city and the need for the board to", "start": 2818.72, "end": 2824.88}, {"text": "challenge The Province for the health rights and safety of Toronto citizens so for the majority of my", "start": 2824.88, "end": 2830.68}, {"text": "career I've been living under the shadow of the toxic drug crisis um it's been like living through", "start": 2830.68, "end": 2836.64}, {"text": "a war but a war that many don't seem to acknowledge I have lost countless", "start": 2836.64, "end": 2843}, {"text": "clients colleagues friends and community for many of us we came into this work", "start": 2843, "end": 2851.119}, {"text": "because our clients could have been us when I'm advocating today for them I'm also speaking up for my younger self and", "start": 2851.119, "end": 2858.599}, {"text": "for all the people that I couldn't be here with couldn't be here with me today so the other day I made the", "start": 2858.599, "end": 2865.64}, {"text": "mistake of counting the number of people I personally have lost it's", "start": 2865.64, "end": 2870.72}, {"text": "24 so I'm 31 years old and I've lost 24 precious people to me", "start": 2870.72, "end": 2877.44}, {"text": "no one should have to bear the weight of that grief and trauma but the sad thing is is I'm one of so many that carry", "start": 2877.44, "end": 2885.079}, {"text": "those experiences now overdose doesn't discriminate it", "start": 2885.079, "end": 2890.4}, {"text": "impacts communities in every demographic of our city I don't need to tell you that it's become the leading cause of", "start": 2890.4, "end": 2896.319}, {"text": "death in Ontario uh for folks under 65 and we know that black and Indigenous folks are disproportionately represented", "start": 2896.319, "end": 2902.96}, {"text": "in in those deaths one person dies every 2.5 hours even with existing overdose Prevention", "start": 2902.96, "end": 2910.079}, {"text": "Services at this time so that means that in the course of this meeting this morning we have lost one more beautiful", "start": 2910.079, "end": 2917.319}, {"text": "human life These are friends children siblings parents and loved ones and this", "start": 2917.319, "end": 2924.88}, {"text": "is not acceptable I know you know it's not acceptable rather than scaling up our", "start": 2924.88, "end": 2930.839}, {"text": "responses we are now faced with a provincial government that is destroying what little defenses we have left to", "start": 2930.839, "end": 2935.96}, {"text": "stop the deaths so we need your leadership as the Board of Health to legally challenge the", "start": 2935.96, "end": 2941.559}, {"text": "community care and Recovery Act to protect the health and safety of torontonians in Toronto's sc's alone", "start": 2941.559, "end": 2948.68}, {"text": "nearly 11,000 overdoses were reversed just between 2020 in 2024 Ford's", "start": 2948.68, "end": 2954.92}, {"text": "decision to shut down sces safer Supply needle exchange services means Toronto", "start": 2954.92, "end": 2960.2}, {"text": "communities have less tools available to support themselves and will be at and we will be at a net loss for all the health", "start": 2960.2, "end": 2967.44}, {"text": "strain that is going to come onto our health care System following the closures of the sces we have an Ontario Healthcare Act", "start": 2967.44, "end": 2974.96}, {"text": "and a Charter of Rights and Freedoms for a reason so that our healthc care doesn't become a political tool to be", "start": 2974.96, "end": 2980.799}, {"text": "played with at the expense of the well-being and lives of others so fors actions to close sces flies in the face", "start": 2980.799, "end": 2988.119}, {"text": "of our protected rights and health I think that your responsibility as the Board of Health is to ensure that the", "start": 2988.119, "end": 2993.839}, {"text": "public health programs and services are delivered to the city in response to local needs your role is to reduce", "start": 2993.839, "end": 2999.96}, {"text": "inequalities and accessibility of care and to improve the health of the City's population I know you care and have", "start": 2999.96, "end": 3007.28}, {"text": "compassion for us I've seen it but I need to see action that goes along with", "start": 3007.28, "end": 3013.04}, {"text": "those words we need your leadership and your voices now more than ever we need you to", "start": 3013.04, "end": 3020.2}, {"text": "stand up in Ford's government against Ford's government and advocate for the most vulnerable in our", "start": 3020.2, "end": 3025.64}, {"text": "communities and if necessary we need you to find the funding for the operating budgets to keep safe consumption", "start": 3025.64, "end": 3031.4}, {"text": "services and Har reduction Services open at the five Toronto sites stated for closure I know that there is budgets", "start": 3031.4, "end": 3038.559}, {"text": "that money that goes into budgets like police and other spaces that I think could be funneled back into safe", "start": 3038.559, "end": 3044.48}, {"text": "consumption sites so like my colleagues before me uh we have very specific asks of you today we ask that the Board of", "start": 3044.48, "end": 3051.599}, {"text": "Health instruct the board chair uh to engage the C and the medical Heth Health", "start": 3051.599, "end": 3056.96}, {"text": "officer to engage the city solicitor about legal responses to challenge the relevant parts of Bill 223 and report", "start": 3056.96, "end": 3063.799}, {"text": "back to the board on December 18th we instruct the medical health officer to immediately advise city council", "start": 3063.799, "end": 3070.64}, {"text": "including the mayor about the health implications of the bill for Toronto and Toronto Public Health we ask that the", "start": 3070.64, "end": 3077.28}, {"text": "board instruct their chair to put a motion before city council at the next council meeting to legally challenge the", "start": 3077.28, "end": 3083.52}, {"text": "community care and Recovery Act which encroaches on the jurist section of the city to protect the health and safety of", "start": 3083.52, "end": 3088.839}, {"text": "its residents we will honor the dead and fight like hell for the living and I am so grateful to be here to speak for", "start": 3088.839, "end": 3096.48}, {"text": "those I have lost thank you thank you any questions for the deput thank you", "start": 3096.48, "end": 3102.64}, {"text": "coming in today uh Juliana kulin", "start": 3102.64, "end": 3109.72}, {"text": "Colin Juliana I don't see them in the attendee list okay okay Toby Stevens", "start": 3111.04, "end": 3120.48}, {"text": "gal Toby Stevens", "start": 3122.52, "end": 3126.359}, {"text": "G I just pred them", "start": 3131.839, "end": 3139.24}, {"text": "okay hi can you hear me yes we can five minutes go ahead great thank you I'd", "start": 3139.599, "end": 3144.76}, {"text": "like to thank everyone present for the opportunity to speak on this issue as it's one that's", "start": 3144.76, "end": 3150.24}, {"text": "um it's an issue that's very close to my heart I'm a registered nurse that's worked in these sites uh for more than", "start": 3150.24, "end": 3156.319}, {"text": "two years now uh prior to that I worked in emergency departments in Toronto I worked in man sin and St mics it's", "start": 3156.319, "end": 3163.92}, {"text": "unfortunate that explaining the impact of these closures often sounds as if we're overstating the negative effects", "start": 3163.92, "end": 3169.359}, {"text": "and I'm sorry that I'm repeating the things that the people who have come before me are saying the people after me", "start": 3169.359, "end": 3176.2}, {"text": "there but there's no way to talk about this without stating it as plainly as", "start": 3176.2, "end": 3181.319}, {"text": "possible these sites save lives hundreds of lives every year and when they are", "start": 3181.319, "end": 3187}, {"text": "closed many of those people will die these are people who live in this city these are your constituents and these", "start": 3187, "end": 3193.319}, {"text": "are our neighbors they're accessing health care and the access to that Health Care is being removed by The", "start": 3193.319, "end": 3199.44}, {"text": "Province without the interventions that we provide at these sites we will have hundreds of more preventable deaths", "start": 3199.44, "end": 3205.44}, {"text": "every year in this City often on the street I feel the need to speak to this because as a health care provider I find", "start": 3205.44, "end": 3212}, {"text": "this unacceptable the data shows that the staff and the peers work in the sc's across the province and in the city have", "start": 3212, "end": 3218.88}, {"text": "reversed thousands of overdoses in the few years that we've been Opera it's potentially thousands of lives saved", "start": 3218.88, "end": 3226.079}, {"text": "that otherwise wouldn't be if we were discussing any other Healthcare intervention dealing with any other", "start": 3226.079, "end": 3232.28}, {"text": "population the idea of removing that life-saving intervention would be ridiculous it would be", "start": 3232.28, "end": 3238.839}, {"text": "laughable and I'm sorry again for repeating myself but I'm discussing an intervention has saved thousands of", "start": 3238.839, "end": 3244.4}, {"text": "lives in the context of the toxic drug crisis that has killed and continues to kill thousands of people in this", "start": 3244.4, "end": 3250.359}, {"text": "province every year these closures are going to have a disastrous effect on the city what the what we do in these sites", "start": 3250.359, "end": 3256.64}, {"text": "is save people's lives and provide them with Health Care provide them with access to social workers help with housing counseling help with jobs many", "start": 3256.64, "end": 3264.24}, {"text": "of the people who work in these sites are people who use drugs drugs or used to use drugs who now have decent jobs", "start": 3264.24, "end": 3269.76}, {"text": "and are no longer living on the street without these sites that isn't a possibility for many of many of the", "start": 3269.76, "end": 3275.76}, {"text": "people that come through our doors don't have anywhere else to use but outside on the street and don't have anyone to keep them safe when they use in the sites at", "start": 3275.76, "end": 3282.72}, {"text": "work we average two overdoses that we respond to per day with oxygen FR staff and at times in the lock zone two per", "start": 3282.72, "end": 3289.839}, {"text": "day in my site people will not stop using drugs when these sites close", "start": 3289.839, "end": 3294.92}, {"text": "they'll just use in public spaces unsupervised two overdoses per day in", "start": 3294.92, "end": 3299.96}, {"text": "each of my sites that will now be happening on the street and that is just again just my site we're talking about", "start": 3299.96, "end": 3307.44}, {"text": "probably 17 of them probably every single one of them across the province that's going to be closed in the next couple years I've also as I said worked", "start": 3307.44, "end": 3314.24}, {"text": "in emergency departments in the city in man and sa M both of them deal with a large amount of patients that are coming", "start": 3314.24, "end": 3320.359}, {"text": "in after an overdose they're both obviously swamped as we keep hearing about the work in these sites directly", "start": 3320.359, "end": 3326.319}, {"text": "offloads work from our emergency departments and our ambulances which are also swamped every day I can also say as", "start": 3326.319, "end": 3332.599}, {"text": "somebody that works in those emergency departments we've saved people's lives from overdoses in the ER sure but I've", "start": 3332.599, "end": 3338.799}, {"text": "never seen someone be truly helped in the in the ER in the way that they are in these sites I've never seen anyone in", "start": 3338.799, "end": 3345.839}, {"text": "the Erb provided with the care the resources and the time necessary for them to actually change their lives for", "start": 3345.839, "end": 3351.319}, {"text": "the better in the SCS we have people come in and thank us or call us and thank us and say hey thanks guys thanks", "start": 3351.319, "end": 3358.2}, {"text": "to you guys I'm no longer living on the streets I got a job I'm", "start": 3358.2, "end": 3363.559}, {"text": "alive what I'm asking for is not a strongly worded letter to the province what I'm asking for is our city campuses", "start": 3363.559, "end": 3370}, {"text": "to engage in legal action to protect the health care for our constituents for your constituents what we're asking for", "start": 3370, "end": 3376.319}, {"text": "is for you to instruct the board chair and theoh to engage the city solicitor about legal responses to challenge the", "start": 3376.319, "end": 3381.839}, {"text": "relevant parts of Bill 223 report back to the board by December 18th we ask", "start": 3381.839, "end": 3386.96}, {"text": "that the board instruct their chair to put a motion before city council at the next council meeting to legally challenge the community care and", "start": 3386.96, "end": 3392.799}, {"text": "Recovery Act which en Roaches on the jurisdiction of this city to protect the health and the safety of its residents", "start": 3392.799, "end": 3399.72}, {"text": "the people that come into our site are people we know them we're on a first name basis with them we laugh and cry", "start": 3399.72, "end": 3406.799}, {"text": "with them we love them there are people often in Dire Straits and these are the only places often that care for them I", "start": 3406.799, "end": 3414.079}, {"text": "don't want those people to die I'm asking for your help with that we", "start": 3414.079, "end": 3419.52}, {"text": "will continue to do the work to keep them alive because there are people like you and I and your kids and your cousins", "start": 3419.52, "end": 3425.559}, {"text": "and your nephews and your nieces but if these sites close many of them will die", "start": 3425.559, "end": 3430.76}, {"text": "I'm speaking to you because we need your help we need you to do what you can to fight the province to help keep these", "start": 3430.76, "end": 3436.599}, {"text": "places open and keep these people alive what you do with this matters our jobs", "start": 3436.599, "end": 3441.92}, {"text": "in these sites involve dealing with life and death decisions your job in this moment I think is making a life or", "start": 3441.92, "end": 3448.24}, {"text": "decision life or death decision and I hope you do what is right thank", "start": 3448.24, "end": 3454.72}, {"text": "you I'm on mute sorry thank you Deputy Mayor Mory uh thank you Toby uh can the", "start": 3466.92, "end": 3474.24}, {"text": "members turn the cameras on for uh Forum purposes and next up is Monica mono", "start": 3474.24, "end": 3483.799}, {"text": "Monica", "start": 3483.799, "end": 3486.28}, {"text": "Monica uh hello yes you have five minutes go ahead", "start": 3489.52, "end": 3494.839}, {"text": "okay perfect um sorry just give me a", "start": 3494.839, "end": 3499.559}, {"text": "second oh okay my video is off um but but that's fine um my name is Monica and", "start": 3502.2, "end": 3509.72}, {"text": "I am a proud member of the harm reduction advocacy Collective and I also work at a supervised consumption site", "start": 3509.72, "end": 3515.799}, {"text": "that is sling to co sorry to close come March 31st 2025 I come to speak not only as a", "start": 3515.799, "end": 3522.559}, {"text": "member of the community or the city but also as someone who has personally been impacted by the toxic drug Supply on", "start": 3522.559, "end": 3528.68}, {"text": "many different levels as someone who has worked in a supervised consumption site over the last three and a half years and worked", "start": 3528.68, "end": 3535.599}, {"text": "in Social services in Toronto for about 5 I've witnessed the toxic drug Supply changing in the worst possible ways and", "start": 3535.599, "end": 3542.079}, {"text": "with the ascending of Bill 223 I fear so many lives will be lost because that drug Supply isn't going to go away", "start": 3542.079, "end": 3547.92}, {"text": "anytime soon over the years I've not only lost friends to the supply but also clients", "start": 3547.92, "end": 3555.079}, {"text": "who every day I have the privilege to spend time with I listen to this community speak about their goals past", "start": 3555.079, "end": 3561.48}, {"text": "Hobbies family their frustrations their fears their favorite book and movies", "start": 3561.48, "end": 3567.72}, {"text": "which some have had the opportunity to listen to music they've created or see the art that they've painted and this", "start": 3567.72, "end": 3573.72}, {"text": "list is short there's so many things that I can explain that they do on a regular basis that amazes me every single", "start": 3573.72, "end": 3580.039}, {"text": "day um every day I'm referring these same people out to services so they can get support around Housing Shelter detox", "start": 3580.039, "end": 3587.319}, {"text": "food Medical Care and other basic needs yet I see them constantly get turned away my primary roles in the work that I", "start": 3587.319, "end": 3595.039}, {"text": "do is to provide support in reversing overdoses both inside and outside of the facility that I work at and refer", "start": 3595.039, "end": 3601.079}, {"text": "clients to additional supports when they are ready and ask for them with the work I do one of the most traumatic Parts is", "start": 3601.079, "end": 3607.48}, {"text": "having to witness people get turned away from basic supports such as having a place to sleep housed or unhoused", "start": 3607.48, "end": 3614.52}, {"text": "working class or not working the impact of Bill 223 will be felt throughout the city with that being said I urge that", "start": 3614.52, "end": 3621.079}, {"text": "the city follows the facts and data that has been provided by the auditor auditor general report when it comes to the need", "start": 3621.079, "end": 3627.16}, {"text": "of supervised consumtion sites and all these sites as well as harm reduction approaches to be part of the heart Hub", "start": 3627.16, "end": 3633.599}, {"text": "model supervised consumption sites already have a strong rapport with the community of the city the city says that", "start": 3633.599, "end": 3639.839}, {"text": "they want to help and support so why not let the sites continue running as the city begins to build facilities for", "start": 3639.839, "end": 3644.88}, {"text": "housing and detox treatments like they are offering we talk a lot about having a", "start": 3644.88, "end": 3650.48}, {"text": "safer City but does that mean closing accessible resources to people who need it the most does that mean risking", "start": 3650.48, "end": 3657.28}, {"text": "children possibly seeing a dead body outside when they're walking to school or a parent having to explain that", "start": 3657.28, "end": 3662.68}, {"text": "conversation to them and why it's happening I really ask us to sit down for a moment and just question how Bill", "start": 3662.68, "end": 3669.64}, {"text": "223 will really benefit the society by closing down so many essential Services", "start": 3669.64, "end": 3674.72}, {"text": "thank you thank you Tre deputation any", "start": 3674.72, "end": 3680.68}, {"text": "questions sing none um Lambo doar", "start": 3680.68, "end": 3686.48}, {"text": "president registered nurses Association of Ontario are you here lamo", "start": 3686.48, "end": 3693.48}, {"text": "doker do you hear me yes we can five minutes go ahead thank you um good", "start": 3699.599, "end": 3704.92}, {"text": "morning my name is lamo doer I'm a nurse practitioner and the president of the registered nurses Association of Ontario", "start": 3704.92, "end": 3711.48}, {"text": "RN represents over 54,000 registered nurses nurse practitioners and nurses students thousands of them who live and", "start": 3711.48, "end": 3718.24}, {"text": "work in Toronto like my previous speakers we are repeating the same thing again but yes it is important to repeat", "start": 3718.24, "end": 3724.52}, {"text": "to ensure that we advocate for measures that are evidence-based and essential for Equitable Health Access rnoo has", "start": 3724.52, "end": 3731}, {"text": "been a leader in best practice guideline development and implementation and have over 1500 best practice Spotlight", "start": 3731, "end": 3737.52}, {"text": "organizations around the world amongst them is ton Public Health who we value greatly our relationship our", "start": 3737.52, "end": 3743.96}, {"text": "evidence-based guideline includes implementing supervised injection Services we thank the chair for", "start": 3743.96, "end": 3749.44}, {"text": "convening this special meeting about Bill 223 this bill will kill many lives", "start": 3749.44, "end": 3754.52}, {"text": "and it will not spare who effects the five Tonto sites scheduled to close just three and a half months from now", "start": 3754.52, "end": 3760.96}, {"text": "overturn nearly 5,000 toxic drug overdoses over a 4year period from 2020", "start": 3760.96, "end": 3766.279}, {"text": "to 2024 the works alone overturned over half of those those were the lives that were saved and we know that supervised", "start": 3766.279, "end": 3774.319}, {"text": "consumption sites do much more than this they are doorways to many forms of care Primary Care Mental", "start": 3774.319, "end": 3780.96}, {"text": "Health Services housing and they respond to many needs material and social our", "start": 3780.96, "end": 3786}, {"text": "concerns are not only limited to the immediate closure closure of SCS but that the ACT will pave the way for", "start": 3786, "end": 3792.72}, {"text": "elimination of all harm reduction programs dependent on exemptions under the cdsa including safer Supply programs", "start": 3792.72, "end": 3800.839}, {"text": "and remaining scss all exemptions are time limited under the ACT", "start": 3800.839, "end": 3806}, {"text": "municipalities and public health units are barred from applying to extend those exemptions harm reduction is not the", "start": 3806, "end": 3812.64}, {"text": "only response to this Public Health crisis but it is a necessary one the pathway to recovery is rarely ever a", "start": 3812.64, "end": 3819.119}, {"text": "straight one people with substance use disorders will most often need to Circle back five times on an average and rely", "start": 3819.119, "end": 3826}, {"text": "on harm reduction services to keep them alive until they can try again more however those who Target recovery often", "start": 3826, "end": 3832.88}, {"text": "don't have treatment services they can afford or access addiction treatment services in Ontario are largely", "start": 3832.88, "end": 3838.64}, {"text": "for-profit and unregulated there were only 257 publicly funded drug treatment", "start": 3838.64, "end": 3844.44}, {"text": "beds in Toronto in 2023 there were three times as many suspect drug related debts", "start": 3844.44, "end": 3849.96}, {"text": "in Toronto in the same year supported by 1.9 billion in matching Federal funding for the road to Wellness", "start": 3849.96, "end": 3856.44}, {"text": "strategy the the provincial government has done actually nothing to address", "start": 3856.44, "end": 3861.599}, {"text": "this Public Health crisis indeed as the auditor general reported in the report last week the government center of", "start": 3861.599, "end": 3867.76}, {"text": "excellence for mental health and addiction does not even have reliable data on the availability and quality of", "start": 3867.76, "end": 3874.24}, {"text": "existing Services making it difficult to accurately plan or provide for people with opioid addiction since coming to", "start": 3874.24, "end": 3881.2}, {"text": "power in 2018 over 22,000 people have died from drug toxicity in this province", "start": 3881.2, "end": 3886.72}, {"text": "and before the auditor General's report could hit the ground they rammed a bill through the legislature that paves the", "start": 3886.72, "end": 3892.319}, {"text": "way for elimination of harm reduction services and precludes you from doing anything about it in conclusion we ask", "start": 3892.319, "end": 3899.359}, {"text": "that you instruct the board chair and the moh to engage the city solicitor about legal responses to challenge the", "start": 3899.359, "end": 3905.44}, {"text": "relevant parts of Bill 223 and report back to the board by December 18", "start": 3905.44, "end": 3910.559}, {"text": "instruct the moh to immediately advise city council including the mayor about the health implications of the bill for", "start": 3910.559, "end": 3916.64}, {"text": "torontonians and Toronto public health and lastly instruct their chair to put a motion before city council at the next", "start": 3916.64, "end": 3922.88}, {"text": "council meeting to legally challenge the community care and Recovery Act which encroaches on the jurisdiction of the", "start": 3922.88, "end": 3928.92}, {"text": "city to protect the health and safety of its residents thank you for your time and the opportunity to represent the", "start": 3928.92, "end": 3935.039}, {"text": "thousands of nurses who work and for the lives that are lost thank you so much thank you so much for attending today", "start": 3935.039, "end": 3942.48}, {"text": "any questions for deput see none thank you Karen McDonald are you here Karen", "start": 3942.48, "end": 3950.64}, {"text": "McDonald's Karen you have five minutes oh no sorry just I hope okay great you", "start": 3952.92, "end": 3960.799}, {"text": "can all see me um so good afternoon and thank you for the opportunity to speak today my name is Karen McDonald for the", "start": 3960.799, "end": 3967.72}, {"text": "last seven years I have had the privilege of leading the design and implementation of Toronto's drug checking service with our City's", "start": 3967.72, "end": 3974.359}, {"text": "supervised consumption sites and people who use drugs as well as the clinical laboratories at St Michels hospital and", "start": 3974.359, "end": 3980.599}, {"text": "the center for addiction and mental health our program has checked over 16,000 drug samples using gold standard", "start": 3980.599, "end": 3987.279}, {"text": "Technologies for chemical analysis and publicly disseminated hundreds of drug Market monitoring and Drug education", "start": 3987.279, "end": 3994.24}, {"text": "reports our program has received International recognition and is regarded as a primary source of timely", "start": 3994.24, "end": 4000.4}, {"text": "and accessible information on the unregulated drug Supply in Canada I have some exciting news to share today which", "start": 4000.4, "end": 4007.559}, {"text": "is that as of last week our incredibly Innovative and valuable public health program has gone provincial with", "start": 4007.559, "end": 4013.68}, {"text": "Services launching in both Kingston and Peterboro that said uh this is really no", "start": 4013.68, "end": 4019.359}, {"text": "time to celebrate when Bill 223 is actively dismantling everything we have built while there is no explicit mention", "start": 4019.359, "end": 4026.839}, {"text": "of drug checking um in the bill the collection site members of our program are supervised consumption sites this", "start": 4026.839, "end": 4034.079}, {"text": "means that bill 223 has serious implications for drug checking Service delivery and unregulated Drug Market", "start": 4034.079, "end": 4040.64}, {"text": "monitoring in Ontario and Canada first supervised consumptions sites sorry first closing supervised", "start": 4040.64, "end": 4048.44}, {"text": "consumption sites will impact access to drug checking Services each of the 10 supervised consumption sites that are", "start": 4048.44, "end": 4054.96}, {"text": "closing that are closing offer drug checking five of those sites are collection site members of our program", "start": 4054.96, "end": 4060.88}, {"text": "with four of those five sites being located right here in Toronto while it is possible for those 10 sites to", "start": 4060.88, "end": 4066.92}, {"text": "continue to offer drug checking without their supervised consumption service there are significant barriers for", "start": 4066.92, "end": 4073.48}, {"text": "example they would all need to reapply uh for a different type of exemption and", "start": 4073.48, "end": 4078.52}, {"text": "also come up with resources to fund staff to conduct drug checking activities which has toate been um", "start": 4078.52, "end": 4085.279}, {"text": "covered using their existing uh consumption and treatment or supervised consumption service budgets second", "start": 4085.279, "end": 4091.48}, {"text": "closing supervised consumption sites will a will impact access to a Continuum of Care while it is not mandatory to", "start": 4091.48, "end": 4099.08}, {"text": "offer drug checking in combination with supervised consumption it is absolutely best practice I say this because during", "start": 4099.08, "end": 4106.04}, {"text": "our pilot period 21% of service users surveyed by our programs by our program", "start": 4106.04, "end": 4111.96}, {"text": "sorry reported intending to use at a supervised consumption site after", "start": 4111.96, "end": 4117.08}, {"text": "receiving their drug checking results lastly closing supervised consumption sites will impact our", "start": 4117.08, "end": 4123.199}, {"text": "ability to Monitor and share real-time information on the composition of the unregulated drug Supply as I mentioned", "start": 4123.199, "end": 4129.56}, {"text": "our program has become a primary source of timely um and accessible information", "start": 4129.56, "end": 4134.96}, {"text": "on the composition of the unregulated drug supply for the country about 80% of", "start": 4134.96, "end": 4140.96}, {"text": "the samples contributing to our unregulated drug Market monitoring efforts to date were collected by", "start": 4140.96, "end": 4146.52}, {"text": "supervised consump by these supervised consumption sites in Toronto that are closing so just in closing you know I I", "start": 4146.52, "end": 4153.278}, {"text": "firmly stand by all of the recommendations that have been made by my peers here today and I urge the city", "start": 4153.279, "end": 4159.48}, {"text": "of Toronto to fight against Bill 223 and really push the envelope when it comes to advocating for our community people", "start": 4159.48, "end": 4165.679}, {"text": "who use drugs and these essential Public Health Services that are being shuttered thank you well thank you for coming in", "start": 4165.679, "end": 4172.56}, {"text": "today see no questions um beta s s", "start": 4172.56, "end": 4181.08}, {"text": "JY we also need one more member to turn their cameras on for Quorum purposes according to the clerk thank you for", "start": 4181.239, "end": 4187.679}, {"text": "reminding me um go ahead beta you have five minutes thank you good afternoon my name", "start": 4187.679, "end": 4195.04}, {"text": "is Sani I'm a resident of Toronto and I'm the community policy and network coordinator at the Canadian drug policy", "start": 4195.04, "end": 4202.199}, {"text": "Coalition we're a national nonpartisan organization working to advance drug policy grounded in public health and", "start": 4202.199, "end": 4208.88}, {"text": "human rights principles it is unusual that our organization with its National", "start": 4208.88, "end": 4214}, {"text": "scope would participate in a municipal process however given the unprecedented nature of the Act and the", "start": 4214, "end": 4220.76}, {"text": "life-threatening harms that Toronto and Ontario residents will be facing as a result we felt it necessary to make this", "start": 4220.76, "end": 4227.92}, {"text": "deputation to urge leadership on this critical issue Toronto faces the largest", "start": 4227.92, "end": 4233.159}, {"text": "number of site closures with the new restri this is the clerk um and I just have a request a member to turn turn", "start": 4233.159, "end": 4240.8}, {"text": "their camera on just so we counted for car would it be possible to pause the", "start": 4240.8, "end": 4248.96}, {"text": "time or should I keep going oh no I", "start": 4249.199, "end": 4256.159}, {"text": "uh please", "start": 4256.159, "end": 4258.6}, {"text": "pause it is paused um can members turn on the", "start": 4265.4, "end": 4272.199}, {"text": "cameras please for cor purposes otherwise we cannot", "start": 4272.199, "end": 4276.719}, {"text": "continue how many do we need there we go do we have cor now", "start": 4282.08, "end": 4287.239}, {"text": "we do okay thank you I'll continue go ahead great as mentioned Toronto has the", "start": 4289.04, "end": 4294.36}, {"text": "largest number of site closures and the highest number of toxic unregulated drug overdose deaths in the province cdpc", "start": 4294.36, "end": 4301.84}, {"text": "coordinates a provincial network of organizations who are deeply concerned with the roll back of harm reduction we", "start": 4301.84, "end": 4307.88}, {"text": "along with numerous experts and researchers anticipate toxic unregulated drug deaths will soar and the harms will", "start": 4307.88, "end": 4314.84}, {"text": "be born BN by those most marginalized in our communities research shows that in", "start": 4314.84, "end": 4320}, {"text": "2021 unhoused people accounted for one in six toxic unregulated deaths in", "start": 4320, "end": 4326}, {"text": "Ontario the implications of this act in an already dire situation are Stark we", "start": 4326, "end": 4332.08}, {"text": "urge you to explore every Avenue to implement life-saving evidence-based", "start": 4332.08, "end": 4337.12}, {"text": "policy supervised consumption sites are a common sense well- researched measure", "start": 4337.12, "end": 4342.36}, {"text": "that reduce deaths and significantly improve Health and Social outcomes we", "start": 4342.36, "end": 4347.4}, {"text": "are talking about four Decades of wellestablished evidence that support the implementation and expansion of", "start": 4347.4, "end": 4352.84}, {"text": "these Services a sentiment echoed in the findings of our three-year National Community engagement project called", "start": 4352.84, "end": 4359.12}, {"text": "getting to tomorrow seven actions to end the unregulated drug crisis also echoed", "start": 4359.12, "end": 4364.52}, {"text": "in do Dr Kieran Moore's annual report the federal 2024 to 2030 stbbi action", "start": 4364.52, "end": 4371.52}, {"text": "plan and countless other expert guidelines the evidence and the Supreme", "start": 4371.52, "end": 4376.76}, {"text": "Court are clear motion sorry apologize okay um the", "start": 4376.76, "end": 4383.199}, {"text": "evidence in the Supreme Court are clear without the ability to access an exemption from the application of the", "start": 4383.199, "end": 4389.56}, {"text": "controlled drugs and Substances Act under Section 56 56 of the ACT people", "start": 4389.56, "end": 4396.28}, {"text": "will be deprived access to life-saving Medical Care and their lives and safety will be unjustly put in danger as noted", "start": 4396.28, "end": 4403.84}, {"text": "in the landmark case for for insight the first legally sanctioned site in the country the ability to access an", "start": 4403.84, "end": 4410.92}, {"text": "exemption under Section 56 from the application of the cdsa is the safety", "start": 4410.92, "end": 4416.4}, {"text": "valve that protects people's lives and safety it is one of the key ways the cdsa furthers its stated intent to", "start": 4416.4, "end": 4423.92}, {"text": "protect Public Health provisions of the community care and Recovery Act take away that safety valve and the ability", "start": 4423.92, "end": 4430.719}, {"text": "for public health experts and healthc care providers to act in accordance with evidence and their ethical", "start": 4430.719, "end": 4437.44}, {"text": "obligations to quote from the Supreme Court if the cdsa consisted solely of", "start": 4437.44, "end": 4443.32}, {"text": "blanket prohibitions with no provision for exemptions for necessary medical or", "start": 4443.32, "end": 4448.6}, {"text": "scientific use of drugs the assertions that it is arbitrary over Brad and", "start": 4448.6, "end": 4453.8}, {"text": "disproportionate in its effects might gain some traction however the ACT", "start": 4453.8, "end": 4459.32}, {"text": "contains not only a Prohibition on possession of of illegal drugs but a provision section 56 that empowers the", "start": 4459.32, "end": 4467.76}, {"text": "minister to Grant exceptions from the prohibition to Health Service Providers like Insight our network members are", "start": 4467.76, "end": 4475.4}, {"text": "deeply concerned with the tragic implications of this act and we urge immediate action we are asking you to", "start": 4475.4, "end": 4482.84}, {"text": "explore every Avenue available to you to ensure that you have and that you", "start": 4482.84, "end": 4488.08}, {"text": "continue to use that life-saving safety valve we have three asks we urge the", "start": 4488.08, "end": 4494.36}, {"text": "Board of Health 2 1 instruct the medical officer of Health to immediately advise", "start": 4494.36, "end": 4499.639}, {"text": "city council including the mayor about the health implications of the bill for Toronto and Toronto Public Health two", "start": 4499.639, "end": 4507.4}, {"text": "instruct the board chair and the medical officer of Health to explore all options to immediately address the health safety", "start": 4507.4, "end": 4513.4}, {"text": "and human rights implications of relevant parts of Bill 223 and report back to the board by December 18th three", "start": 4513.4, "end": 4520.4}, {"text": "we ask that the board instruct their chair to put a motion before city council at the next council meeting to", "start": 4520.4, "end": 4525.48}, {"text": "adopt an immediate action plan to address the ACT which encroaches on the jurisdiction of the city to protect the", "start": 4525.48, "end": 4531.719}, {"text": "health and safety of its residents thank you so", "start": 4531.719, "end": 4536.36}, {"text": "much thank you um Peter Bachman Mr chair sorry to", "start": 4537.48, "end": 4546.8}, {"text": "interject I wonder if it's the will of the body to extend to complete the agenda just noting we'll we're coming up", "start": 4546.8, "end": 4553.239}, {"text": "on um the lunch break in about 15 minutes and I think we'll have a few more uh speakers to get through yes the", "start": 4553.239, "end": 4560.199}, {"text": "clerk is actually working on that right now and we is Our intention to extend", "start": 4560.199, "end": 4565.76}, {"text": "the meeting to completion at 12:30 that being said though we've been having Quorum issues as you probably could hear", "start": 4565.76, "end": 4573.04}, {"text": "and so I'm not even quite sure if we'll make it through this uh end of this agenda just so you know yeah this", "start": 4573.04, "end": 4579.76}, {"text": "supposed to be a special meeting of the board and uh it's extended with Way", "start": 4579.76, "end": 4585.28}, {"text": "Beyond but we'll do our best on this end thank you uh is everyone do we have cor now is", "start": 4585.28, "end": 4592.239}, {"text": "the camera's turned on yes we do have Corum now okay um", "start": 4592.239, "end": 4598.28}, {"text": "Peter Bachman are you here I am good morning sorry afternoon um thank you for", "start": 4598.28, "end": 4604.6}, {"text": "letting me speak here um apologies for one second", "start": 4604.6, "end": 4610.56}, {"text": "um my name is Peter Bachman I'm a settler who was born in the city um I've", "start": 4610.56, "end": 4615.679}, {"text": "cradled a stranger's head my arms using a device to keep oxygen flowing into their bloodstream to ensure they survive", "start": 4615.679, "end": 4621.76}, {"text": "an overdose more times than I can ever imagine counting um no other aspect of my import", "start": 4621.76, "end": 4628.639}, {"text": "of my employment is important Beyond this and my thoughts on my own I'm choosing to leave out personal stories", "start": 4628.639, "end": 4634.159}, {"text": "of grief because frankly I'm tired of publicly exhuming two long-term Partners seven Community leaders and countless", "start": 4634.159, "end": 4641.36}, {"text": "friends today many of my friends allies and colleagues will will show you evidence which would suggest astonish", "start": 4641.36, "end": 4647.239}, {"text": "with astonishing probability that these sites should continue to operate and that their functionality is indisputably", "start": 4647.239, "end": 4653.6}, {"text": "life-saving something I obviously agree with full-heartedly but let's face it it's 2024 facts and evidence are", "start": 4653.6, "end": 4660.88}, {"text": "dismissed with alarming regularity legislators across the board have proven that decisions impacting lives are often", "start": 4660.88, "end": 4667.12}, {"text": "made on myths myths information political expediency and", "start": 4667.12, "end": 4672.6}, {"text": "nonsense um I'm here to ask the council to remember why you hold these seats of", "start": 4672.6, "end": 4677.88}, {"text": "power and privilege in the first place Bill 223 and its essention represent one", "start": 4677.88, "end": 4683.719}, {"text": "of those career defining scales these were one of the instances which will ultimately Define your career", "start": 4683.719, "end": 4689.44}, {"text": "as Leaders who once chose to elevate the lives of the people within your constituencies the lies you've sworn to", "start": 4689.44, "end": 4695.6}, {"text": "uphold and fairly protect even if this creates some temporary Kickback or negative criticism history will show us", "start": 4695.6, "end": 4702.28}, {"text": "eventually who made the difference and it should be noted if the premier has taught us anything about history within", "start": 4702.28, "end": 4707.76}, {"text": "the last six years in office it's that people in Ontario have a pension for", "start": 4707.76, "end": 4712.96}, {"text": "forgiveness the council is capable of making the right choices when it comes to policy regarding these essential", "start": 4712.96, "end": 4719.28}, {"text": "services and if you don't care to listen to evidence listen to the young person within you who aspired to work towards", "start": 4719.28, "end": 4724.6}, {"text": "these positions of immense power and privilege you now hold reach out to that person and make the change which is", "start": 4724.6, "end": 4730}, {"text": "right not just for the political gra sorry political gain or career advance", "start": 4730, "end": 4735.48}, {"text": "many of us working in these sites no longer even have this option of as of April 1st not that employment is the", "start": 4735.48, "end": 4741.76}, {"text": "focal point here but for many people these decisions mean the igress a digression to a job market that", "start": 4741.76, "end": 4749.4}, {"text": "doesn't offer Equitable employment opportunities or an understanding of the nuances which people with lived experience face these setbacks will not", "start": 4749.4, "end": 4756.88}, {"text": "only fail our communities they will kill your constituents and bring forth devastating levels of strain on", "start": 4756.88, "end": 4762.88}, {"text": "Healthcare infrastructure and eliminate people people's incomes these setbacks will fall will", "start": 4762.88, "end": 4767.92}, {"text": "fail the children which are politically weaponized ironically a lack of Truth and this I've seen in many forums", "start": 4767.92, "end": 4773.6}, {"text": "personally has caused youth to become the victims when it comes to drugs and their effects Sheltering children from", "start": 4773.6, "end": 4779.44}, {"text": "the effects of drug use can carry disastrous consequences as a former Youth of the inner city and an", "start": 4779.44, "end": 4786.12}, {"text": "adult which has had his who's had his life ravaged by the effects of the drug poisoning crisis I can personally attest", "start": 4786.12, "end": 4792.12}, {"text": "to the importance of educating young people empowering them with a compassion and empathy and accurate information to", "start": 4792.12, "end": 4798.56}, {"text": "make the right decisions regarding their own autonomy in these environments instead of just discarding these realities as fearmongering Mythos only", "start": 4798.56, "end": 4806.239}, {"text": "to find that their curiosity leads them to a fate that 2.5 people an hour in Ontario face that statistic every 2.5", "start": 4806.239, "end": 4814.56}, {"text": "hours represents people people are all children to somebody following truth and", "start": 4814.56, "end": 4820.12}, {"text": "upholding Justice is never an easy battle it's made with sacrifice and I've seen many people in this in Industry", "start": 4820.12, "end": 4826.84}, {"text": "lost to the opposition we Face the only difference is is that this battle does", "start": 4826.84, "end": 4831.88}, {"text": "an answer to a governing body only the only the thresholds of a human body many", "start": 4831.88, "end": 4837.04}, {"text": "of my friends have died to keep each other alive a man who did just that once said", "start": 4837.04, "end": 4843.639}, {"text": "and I will close with this someday soon an enlightened Society will look at these names as victims of war", "start": 4843.639, "end": 4849.88}, {"text": "crime this enlightened Society will regard the politicians the judges the police the doctors and the reporters who", "start": 4849.88, "end": 4856.92}, {"text": "perpetuated this war as war criminals Fort workers social workers psychiatrists landlords so-called", "start": 4856.92, "end": 4863.719}, {"text": "addiction workers in short all the people who knowingly watched these crimes and did nothing to stop them they", "start": 4863.719, "end": 4869.76}, {"text": "will all bear the stains of this horrendous War crime called The War on Drugs I hope you'll use you sorry I hope", "start": 4869.76, "end": 4877.639}, {"text": "you'll use your power not to uphold the failures of the past but to build a future where all people not just the", "start": 4877.639, "end": 4884.04}, {"text": "privilege are given the chance to live in dignity safety and hope thank you for your time thank you Peter any questions", "start": 4884.04, "end": 4892.12}, {"text": "for Peter I say none thank you again uh Joseph", "start": 4892.12, "end": 4899.28}, {"text": "senzo Joseph as senzo you have five minutes thank you", "start": 4900.76, "end": 4907.159}, {"text": "I'm coming to you with a person with liveed experience injecting drugs for over 30", "start": 4907.159, "end": 4913.04}, {"text": "years drug treatment uh centers many times it never worked for many reasons", "start": 4913.04, "end": 4919.48}, {"text": "in 2018 I was living rough and got connected to South Riverdale Community Health Center for heeps SE treatment the", "start": 4919.48, "end": 4927.44}, {"text": "reason why I finally got their treatment was because the way I was treated it was with dignity and respect I tried many", "start": 4927.44, "end": 4934.56}, {"text": "times throughout the 15 years to receive treatment I was always being judged or", "start": 4934.56, "end": 4940.08}, {"text": "stigmatized from the other places and while on treatment I did their peer", "start": 4940.08, "end": 4945.28}, {"text": "training I graduated I was on ODSP at the time then got a job as a community", "start": 4945.28, "end": 4951.159}, {"text": "support worker I have not been on ODSP for the last three years I have been a community", "start": 4951.159, "end": 4957.44}, {"text": "health worker working full-time ever since with the tral community HC program", "start": 4957.44, "end": 4962.6}, {"text": "I have also worked in a safe injection site during covid I have seen how they been able to", "start": 4962.6, "end": 4970.159}, {"text": "support people without judgment and connect them to what they need at the moment I have lost family and friends to", "start": 4970.159, "end": 4977.88}, {"text": "the toxic drug Supply the safe injection sites give people connections with what", "start": 4977.88, "end": 4983.44}, {"text": "they are looking for at the time they give people using them a place to connect to a community the safe", "start": 4983.44, "end": 4990.159}, {"text": "injection sites are heart hubs you cannot force people into treatment they have to be willing and ready and fr what", "start": 4990.159, "end": 4997.6}, {"text": "I've seen and know even the ones that are already have an extremely difficult", "start": 4997.6, "end": 5003.679}, {"text": "and challenging time getting into drug treatment programs or alcohol treatment", "start": 5003.679, "end": 5008.8}, {"text": "I know because I've been there many times I must mention that there's always", "start": 5008.8, "end": 5014.28}, {"text": "being they're always being judged and stigmatized at drug treatment centers treatment only works when", "start": 5014.28, "end": 5020.6}, {"text": "you're forced treatment only sorry you can", "start": 5020.6, "end": 5026.08}, {"text": "never understand until you walk a m in someone else's shoes harm reduction works I asked the board chair and", "start": 5026.08, "end": 5033.12}, {"text": "medical officer of Health to Eng Engage The City solicor about the legal responses to challenge Bill 223 and", "start": 5033.12, "end": 5039.639}, {"text": "report back by December 18th people are going to die without these sites I", "start": 5039.639, "end": 5045.96}, {"text": "instruct the medical officer of Health to immediately advise the city council and mayor about the health implications", "start": 5045.96, "end": 5051.719}, {"text": "of this bill for tronto and tronto public health the facts and data are there and policies should be informed by", "start": 5051.719, "end": 5058.719}, {"text": "it and that the board instructor chair put a motion before city council at the", "start": 5058.719, "end": 5064.04}, {"text": "next council meeting to legally challenge the bills thank you thank you very much uh Joseph I see", "start": 5064.04, "end": 5073.84}, {"text": "no question from deput from U members we'll move on to Morgan", "start": 5073.84, "end": 5079.119}, {"text": "Garnett Morgan Garett you have five", "start": 5079.119, "end": 5084}, {"text": "minutes good morning go ahead thank you hello everyone um my name is Morgan and", "start": 5086.96, "end": 5094.44}, {"text": "I'm a member of the harm production advy Collective at this moment I do respectfully request counselors to turn", "start": 5094.44, "end": 5100.88}, {"text": "their cameras on to give this issue and those deputing the presence and attention they deserve I've been", "start": 5100.88, "end": 5107.76}, {"text": "involved in the drug user Liberation movement in anti-homelessness activism for at least 15 years for 10 years I've", "start": 5107.76, "end": 5115.28}, {"text": "done paid work as a community worker with a focus on harm reduction including at a safe use site I now do grief grief", "start": 5115.28, "end": 5122.32}, {"text": "and loss work in the context of the drive poisoning crisis in this political climate I tragically have no doubt that", "start": 5122.32, "end": 5129.92}, {"text": "I will have stable and unrelenting support work to do for years to come as the toxic Supply continues to kill more", "start": 5129.92, "end": 5137.4}, {"text": "loved ones every day this will also include navigating the grief felt by the loss of these sites which are support", "start": 5137.4, "end": 5144.719}, {"text": "conversations I'm already having to my point just last Thursday a suspected", "start": 5144.719, "end": 5149.92}, {"text": "overdose claimed the life of a friend's loved one which follows just 3 weeks after the suspected overdose death of my", "start": 5149.92, "end": 5156.84}, {"text": "aunt's ex-husband both of these people lived in Ontario one of them in", "start": 5156.84, "end": 5162.04}, {"text": "Toronto when I first started doing formal work the deaths were at a uh the", "start": 5162.04, "end": 5167.48}, {"text": "the deaths that were at a closer proximity to me were more spread out it happened about a year maybe six months", "start": 5167.48, "end": 5173.48}, {"text": "apart in the last years significantly since Co I've had these death inch", "start": 5173.48, "end": 5179.28}, {"text": "closer and closer together suspect I won't be able to make another full month before the next person dies and that's", "start": 5179.28, "end": 5185.679}, {"text": "with the existing services this end I come to you with a grief swollen heart", "start": 5185.679, "end": 5191.199}, {"text": "in an absolute tear of what comes next after the bill 223 is enacted I know", "start": 5191.199, "end": 5197.44}, {"text": "that with no safe place to use many of our loved ones in community will die in Parks public bathrooms and", "start": 5197.44, "end": 5204.719}, {"text": "alleys those who do have a place to use will not have access to vital services", "start": 5204.719, "end": 5210.119}, {"text": "to discuss safer ways of using including strategizing and the the everchanging", "start": 5210.119, "end": 5215.239}, {"text": "toxic drug Supply the drugs that we started this crisis with are not the drugs that we're", "start": 5215.239, "end": 5221.04}, {"text": "battling today and it's important to have this information out in community I stand or I guess sit here to", "start": 5221.04, "end": 5229.4}, {"text": "remind you of your power to make changes and your civic responsibility to protect", "start": 5229.4, "end": 5234.88}, {"text": "all of your citizen all of your citizens these reminders at the core of my", "start": 5234.88, "end": 5241}, {"text": "message are the following demands to instruct the board shair and the medical", "start": 5241, "end": 5246.08}, {"text": "officer of Health to engage the city uh solicitor about the legal responses to", "start": 5246.08, "end": 5252.6}, {"text": "challenge the relevant parts of Bill 223 and report back to the board by December 18th we need more than a strongly worded", "start": 5252.6, "end": 5260}, {"text": "letter do not let these requests and passion words today collect dust while", "start": 5260, "end": 5265.56}, {"text": "people die I ask that you instruct the medical officer of Health to immediately advise", "start": 5265.56, "end": 5271.52}, {"text": "city council including the mayor about the health implications of the bill for Toronto and Toronto Public Health the", "start": 5271.52, "end": 5278.239}, {"text": "data is there and policy should not be informed and should be informed by it not morality I ask that the board", "start": 5278.239, "end": 5286.199}, {"text": "instruct the chair to put a motion before the city councilor to the next at the next C council meeting to legally", "start": 5286.199, "end": 5292.719}, {"text": "challenge the community care and Recovery Act which encroaches on the jurisdiction to the city council and", "start": 5292.719, "end": 5297.92}, {"text": "protect the house of all of its residents not just the ones with whom they feel Affinity employ you to take", "start": 5297.92, "end": 5304.92}, {"text": "action in an active stance the opposition and overturning of this malicious Bill and remind you that talk", "start": 5304.92, "end": 5310.88}, {"text": "is cheap and costs our loved ones lives I emphasize I end this by emphasizing", "start": 5310.88, "end": 5316.96}, {"text": "that all of the people who use Li drugs lives matter especially those who are marginalized and most vulnerable I must", "start": 5316.96, "end": 5324.56}, {"text": "mention those who are racialized and black and Indigenous people we are part", "start": 5324.56, "end": 5330.6}, {"text": "of the community and we are not considerable nor acceptable losses thank you for your attention", "start": 5330.6, "end": 5337.6}, {"text": "thank you Morgan any questions for the deput say none thanks for coming in", "start": 5337.6, "end": 5343.04}, {"text": "today h Sandra konu Sandra konu do we want to extend", "start": 5343.04, "end": 5351.719}, {"text": "yes let's do that now um the clerk has a motion to extend to complete the agenda", "start": 5351.719, "end": 5357.8}, {"text": "Council perks moves it all those do you need to post it um", "start": 5357.8, "end": 5363.719}, {"text": "it's okay okay all those in favor oppos carried thank you uh Sandra konu are you", "start": 5363.719, "end": 5370.44}, {"text": "here I believe she is dropped on but I think her partner is still here so I can promote them to the next speaker", "start": 5370.44, "end": 5378.96}, {"text": "okay is the next speaker Cil Kaza chinki", "start": 5379.199, "end": 5386.719}, {"text": "kachin you", "start": 5387.48, "end": 5390.639}, {"text": "see help me pronounce your last name before you begin kazin Cil kazin okay", "start": 5393.04, "end": 5399.159}, {"text": "thank you go ahead you have five minutes thank you thank you so much for the opportunity to speak today um I speak on", "start": 5399.159, "end": 5405.84}, {"text": "behalf of the HIV legal Network and HIV and human rights organization for years we've been", "start": 5405.84, "end": 5411.76}, {"text": "advocating for the removal of legal and policy barriers to life- saving evidence-based supervised consumption", "start": 5411.76, "end": 5417.56}, {"text": "services and we produce reports outlining the evolution of these services in Canada we know we need more", "start": 5417.56, "end": 5424.639}, {"text": "SCS including inhalation SCS and we need more funding for these services but the", "start": 5424.639, "end": 5431.08}, {"text": "entire government decided instead to erect new barriers that will prevent SCS from operating and expanding including", "start": 5431.08, "end": 5439.28}, {"text": "in Toronto the community care and Recovery Act will have colossal ramification for", "start": 5439.28, "end": 5445.88}, {"text": "Toronto's ability to respond to the toxic drug crisis and it must be challenged first no one whether it's a", "start": 5445.88, "end": 5453.48}, {"text": "municipal or Community organization will be authorized to operate supervised consumption services within 200 met of a", "start": 5453.48, "end": 5460.32}, {"text": "designated premises in Toronto alone this will affect at least five SCS", "start": 5460.32, "end": 5465.56}, {"text": "including the works run by Toronto Public Health as well as municipally supported up ands uh temporary uh", "start": 5465.56, "end": 5473.48}, {"text": "Services often embedded in shelter Services no alternative will be provided", "start": 5473.48, "end": 5479.159}, {"text": "to client that rely on these services to survive and to get support and SCS", "start": 5479.159, "end": 5484.679}, {"text": "providers will be left without space and structure to respond to overdose related", "start": 5484.679, "end": 5489.719}, {"text": "emergencies the 200 meter rule was unilaterally decided by The Province", "start": 5489.719, "end": 5494.92}, {"text": "without consulting with the population that will be disproportionately impacted by it or I Believe by municipalities", "start": 5494.92, "end": 5501.719}, {"text": "that will have to bear the devastating consequences of these prohibitions the legislative process was", "start": 5501.719, "end": 5508.4}, {"text": "rushed and fundamental steps such as Community review were bypassed the ACT", "start": 5508.4, "end": 5513.679}, {"text": "will also prevent municipal authorities including local Board of Health from operating new SCS or renewing their", "start": 5513.679, "end": 5520.28}, {"text": "exemption including for up hns unless they receive provincial approval it will", "start": 5520.28, "end": 5525.56}, {"text": "also bar municipalities from supporting other sces applying or renewing their federal exemption likely through funding", "start": 5525.56, "end": 5533.92}, {"text": "unless again they receive provincial approval and the Ministry of Health made it clear there will be no further", "start": 5533.92, "end": 5540.84}, {"text": "approvals of consumption sites in the province of Ontario under their government the ACT will result in", "start": 5540.84, "end": 5548.119}, {"text": "preventable deaths and impose extreme pressures on emergency services and it will also increase public drug use at a", "start": 5548.119, "end": 5556.28}, {"text": "time where tronto faces a Relentless drug toxicity epidemic that has already taken the lives of so many tornians this", "start": 5556.28, "end": 5564.08}, {"text": "unjustified constraints on the establishment of life-saving SCS cannnot be", "start": 5564.08, "end": 5569.6}, {"text": "unchallenged Additionally the ACT will prohibit any local initiative to decom ized personal drug possession in Ontario", "start": 5569.6, "end": 5576.52}, {"text": "an initiative that Toronto itself took in 2022 by seeking a federal exemption", "start": 5576.52, "end": 5581.56}, {"text": "under the cdsa and given that the criminal law is within the exclusive jurisdiction of the", "start": 5581.56, "end": 5587.28}, {"text": "federal government it remains unclear whether the province has the legality Authority the legal authority to do", "start": 5587.28, "end": 5593.639}, {"text": "this the ACT will also prevent the city or local board from seeking Federal funding for safe Supply program without", "start": 5593.639, "end": 5600.679}, {"text": "the approval of the ministry again the legal Authority for the provincial government to intervene in the health", "start": 5600.679, "end": 5606.239}, {"text": "funding decisions of municipalities is unclear and could set a worrisome", "start": 5606.239, "end": 5611.32}, {"text": "precedent if it remains remains unchallenged as you've already heard uh", "start": 5611.32, "end": 5617.6}, {"text": "the Ontario government um decided to introduce this act knowing from their own experts that there is a high risk it", "start": 5617.6, "end": 5624.36}, {"text": "will increase emergency Department's overdose overdo deaths and other negative health impact as well as public", "start": 5624.36, "end": 5630.679}, {"text": "use and disproportionately harm indigenous black and lowincome people in", "start": 5630.679, "end": 5636.88}, {"text": "Ontario you've also already heard that in 2011 the Supreme Court of Canada", "start": 5636.88, "end": 5642.44}, {"text": "anonymously ordered the Federal Ministry of Health at the time to Grant inside the first legally sanctioned SCS in", "start": 5642.44, "end": 5648.44}, {"text": "Canada an exemption to continue operating the court found that Insight", "start": 5648.44, "end": 5653.48}, {"text": "saves life and rule that denying an exemption would violate the the charters people who use drug Frontline", "start": 5653.48, "end": 5660.8}, {"text": "staff and of harm addiction and health agencies Public Health Scholars and human rights Advocates have universally", "start": 5660.8, "end": 5666.639}, {"text": "denounced this legislation today we collectively ask the city to step in and", "start": 5666.639, "end": 5671.92}, {"text": "refuse unjustifiable and deadly constraints on its power to provide support to Toronto", "start": 5671.92, "end": 5678.56}, {"text": "residents like others we urge the Board of Health to instruct the board chair and the medical officer of Health to", "start": 5678.56, "end": 5684.6}, {"text": "engage the city solicitor about legal response to challenge the community care and Recovery Act and report back to the", "start": 5684.6, "end": 5691.32}, {"text": "board by December 18th we to instruct the medical officer of Health to immediately advise city council", "start": 5691.32, "end": 5697.52}, {"text": "including the mayor about the health implication of the bill for Toronto and Toronto public health and to instruct", "start": 5697.52, "end": 5703.4}, {"text": "the board chair to put a motion before city council at the next council meeting to legally challenge the community care", "start": 5703.4, "end": 5709.32}, {"text": "and Recovery Act which encroaches on the jurisdiction of the city to protect the", "start": 5709.32, "end": 5714.4}, {"text": "health and safety of its resident thank you thank you any questions for depent", "start": 5714.4, "end": 5719.76}, {"text": "saying none thanks for coming in today um man Martin Martins you here M", "start": 5719.76, "end": 5727.6}, {"text": "Martins okay you have five minutes I'm here okay go ahead five", "start": 5727.6, "end": 5734.92}, {"text": "minutes thank you good afternoon uh thanks to everyone here and for all of", "start": 5734.92, "end": 5740.52}, {"text": "my Brave colleagues who spoken before me my name is mon Martins I've been a Frontline harm reduction worker at a CHC", "start": 5740.52, "end": 5747.199}, {"text": "for about seven years now a settler on unseated land and a person who cares deeply about the health and wellness of", "start": 5747.199, "end": 5753.44}, {"text": "people people who use drugs the last time I deputed at the Board of Health it was in 2018 and I am disheartened to be", "start": 5753.44, "end": 5761.08}, {"text": "here today to acknowledge that we've regressed this far in 2024 where I live I can see Parkdale", "start": 5761.08, "end": 5767.96}, {"text": "Queen West uh safe consumption site from my front porch uh I welcome this service", "start": 5767.96, "end": 5774.8}, {"text": "that is literally in my front yard I'm here today urging you to advocate for all ontarians to take action to hear our", "start": 5774.8, "end": 5782.28}, {"text": "requests to legally challenge the community care and Recovery Act to explicitly withdraw your support from", "start": 5782.28, "end": 5788.199}, {"text": "Bill 223 when these sites close drug use does not disappear drug use just becomes more", "start": 5788.199, "end": 5796}, {"text": "more covert and people die Health Minister Sylvia Jones shared", "start": 5796, "end": 5801.199}, {"text": "concerns about discarded needles and the impact that witnessing drug use will have on children but her solution is to", "start": 5801.199, "end": 5807.639}, {"text": "prohibit the very sites where public drug use occurs in a private and controlled environment", "start": 5807.639, "end": 5813.84}, {"text": "where staff do community cleanup to dispose of discarded druggies equipment today I'm wondering about the impact on", "start": 5813.84, "end": 5820.08}, {"text": "children who will lose a parent to overdose when these services are no longer available like my friend Dylan", "start": 5820.08, "end": 5826.76}, {"text": "who found his dad Leon dead from unregulated fenel I'm wondering why the", "start": 5826.76, "end": 5832.32}, {"text": "government is prioritizing the fear and the discomfort of some over the lives of", "start": 5832.32, "end": 5837.36}, {"text": "others the provincial government wants the public to believe that supervised consumption sites enable drug use and", "start": 5837.36, "end": 5843.52}, {"text": "prevent service users from accessing treatment this is a false premise and a distraction from the issue at hand harm", "start": 5843.52, "end": 5851.04}, {"text": "reduction and drug treatment are not in opposition I'm not sure if anyone on the", "start": 5851.04, "end": 5856.639}, {"text": "board of health here has been to a safe consumption site but when people show up", "start": 5856.639, "end": 5861.719}, {"text": "and they request treatment staff don't just shrug and hand them a syringe the fundamental issue here is", "start": 5861.719, "end": 5868.239}, {"text": "that there is a lack of accessible and affordable treatment options and in the", "start": 5868.239, "end": 5873.639}, {"text": "term we need to keep people alive and this is in Toronto this is not", "start": 5873.639, "end": 5879.08}, {"text": "even considering Northern Communities indigenous communities who will be hit much harder than we are in the city for", "start": 5879.08, "end": 5885.8}, {"text": "the last week I have been entirely occupied uh about this incredibly shortsighted Bill I'm distraught", "start": 5885.8, "end": 5892.119}, {"text": "thinking about the number of people I know who will die without these sites I want folks to imagine counselor", "start": 5892.119, "end": 5900.119}, {"text": "Bravo perks Chris imagine someone that you love and imagine that the government", "start": 5900.119, "end": 5906.56}, {"text": "passes a policy that will basically guarantee the people that you love will die these are unique and complicated", "start": 5906.56, "end": 5912.56}, {"text": "wonderful people who make up this province and in a number of months they will die this is the reality for many of us", "start": 5912.56, "end": 5921.199}, {"text": "now please listen to us today those of us with lived experience who've worked", "start": 5921.199, "end": 5926.36}, {"text": "Frontline to evidence instead of supporting this over complicated duplication of a service that is already", "start": 5926.36, "end": 5932.679}, {"text": "happening in Harmon production rooms and safe consumption sites across the province quite frankly I don't want to", "start": 5932.679, "end": 5939.119}, {"text": "depute here ever again please don't let our voices just wash over you today we", "start": 5939.119, "end": 5944.36}, {"text": "can't afford to keep wasting time fighting about the same issues I know you on the board of health", "start": 5944.36, "end": 5950.8}, {"text": "care about the people in the city the health of the people in this city and in", "start": 5950.8, "end": 5955.96}, {"text": "this province I'm asking you today if you personally are willing to pick up discarded needles and pipes where they", "start": 5955.96, "end": 5962.28}, {"text": "lay abandoned once EMS removes a body are you ready to reverse an overdose in a Tim Horton's bathroom or in a bus", "start": 5962.28, "end": 5969.04}, {"text": "shelter when we no longer have these sites please don't let our progress over", "start": 5969.04, "end": 5974.239}, {"text": "the last several years be in vain thank you thank you m any questions for on see", "start": 5974.239, "end": 5982}, {"text": "none thank you for coming in today uh Trevor haa you", "start": 5982, "end": 5989.28}, {"text": "here Trevor yeah five minutes", "start": 5989.28, "end": 5994.84}, {"text": "go ahead are you on mute", "start": 5997.08, "end": 6003.199}, {"text": "Trevor there we go can you hear me yes we can thank you good afternoon thanks", "start": 6003.199, "end": 6009.44}, {"text": "to the board for allowing me to speak today uh before I begin I want to acknowledge the toxic drug crisis in", "start": 6009.44, "end": 6014.679}, {"text": "Toronto uh this morning I'll be speaking of loss and vulnerability related to the crisis and I do so with heavy heart and", "start": 6014.679, "end": 6020.679}, {"text": "with great respect for those who have been most affected my name is Trevor Haida and I'm a social", "start": 6020.679, "end": 6025.719}, {"text": "worker and currently the overdose prevention site coordinator at Street Health our site is located at Dundas and", "start": 6025.719, "end": 6031.88}, {"text": "Sherburn in Toronto's downtown east just a few minutes walk from Young and Dundas in the core of downtown as a site we", "start": 6031.88, "end": 6038.44}, {"text": "feel very lucky to be excluded from the list of upcoming closures but our site is small and runs without any government", "start": 6038.44, "end": 6044.599}, {"text": "funding the safer streets stronger communities acts will have dire effects on our program and on our", "start": 6044.599, "end": 6051.56}, {"text": "community the center on policy evaluation recently reported significant empirical support for supervised", "start": 6051.56, "end": 6057.599}, {"text": "consumption sites in Ontario their findings noted that these sites reduce overdose related harm and mortality", "start": 6057.599, "end": 6063.56}, {"text": "reduce unsafe injection practices reduce risk of disease transmission due to injection and reduce the burden of", "start": 6063.56, "end": 6069.32}, {"text": "emergency departments importantly the study tells us that these benefits come at no cost of community safety there are", "start": 6069.32, "end": 6075.679}, {"text": "no attestable increases in homicide rates surrounding consumption sites nor are there increases in assaults", "start": 6075.679, "end": 6081.599}, {"text": "robberies or bnes many of these neighborhoods have experienced declines or lesser increases when compared to", "start": 6081.599, "end": 6088.08}, {"text": "communities without a site the depiction of these sites as increasingly dangerous and risky by our provincial government", "start": 6088.08, "end": 6094.44}, {"text": "when looking to the data is overwhelmingly incorrect now I want to tell you a little bit more about the site I work in", "start": 6094.44, "end": 6101.119}, {"text": "because Street Health's overdose prevention site is unlike those you may think of we're donor funded and fairly", "start": 6101.119, "end": 6106.719}, {"text": "low capacity while larger sites might see upwards of 60 or 70 visits in a day we", "start": 6106.719, "end": 6112.36}, {"text": "typically see about 10 we offer a unique service in the landscape of harm reduction by tailoring our site to those", "start": 6112.36, "end": 6118.52}, {"text": "most likely to be overlooked by removing barriers like time restraints and maintaining a less clinical environment", "start": 6118.52, "end": 6124.84}, {"text": "our site is often able to create space for folks who have lost access to other sites or don't feel safe accessing them", "start": 6124.84, "end": 6131.4}, {"text": "more than half of our clientele are women which is a significant over representation compared to broader supervised consumption usage we also see", "start": 6131.4, "end": 6138.76}, {"text": "overrepresented numbers of clientele who are indigenous people living with disabilities and who are over 65 we're", "start": 6138.76, "end": 6145.48}, {"text": "very proud to offer services in this way to these people but unfortunately it all seems like it may be forced to change", "start": 6145.48, "end": 6151.639}, {"text": "very soon as we consider the sites stated for closure in March many of which are in our downtown community we", "start": 6151.639, "end": 6159.08}, {"text": "expect a significant increase in volume we can't know exactly what will come but if even a small percentage of those", "start": 6159.08, "end": 6164.84}, {"text": "folks accessing The Works Regent Park and Moss Park cts's choose to access ours post March we will be stretched far", "start": 6164.84, "end": 6172.48}, {"text": "beyond our capacity having to Pivot to stricter more rigid systems will undoubtedly abandon those folks we have", "start": 6172.48, "end": 6178.4}, {"text": "historically aimed to serve everyone deserves access to harm reduction and as a result of this act some of the city's", "start": 6178.4, "end": 6184.56}, {"text": "most overlooked individuals will lose it at this time I want to Echo previous deput in urging the Board of Health and", "start": 6184.56, "end": 6191.239}, {"text": "the city council to leverage your influence support local efforts challenging Bill 223 instruct the board", "start": 6191.239, "end": 6197.159}, {"text": "chair and the Ministry of Health to engage the city solicitor about legal responses to challenge relevant parts of", "start": 6197.159, "end": 6202.48}, {"text": "Bill 223 three and report back to the board by December 18th instruct the ministry of of Health to immediately", "start": 6202.48, "end": 6208.719}, {"text": "advise city council including the mayor and the health about the health implications of the bill for Toronto and", "start": 6208.719, "end": 6214}, {"text": "Toronto Public Health finally I ask that the board instruct their chair to put a motion before city council at the next", "start": 6214, "end": 6219.92}, {"text": "council meeting to legally challenge the community care and Recovery Act which encroaches on the jurisdiction of the", "start": 6219.92, "end": 6225.119}, {"text": "city to protect the health and the safety of its residents sites in the downtown east and across the city are", "start": 6225.119, "end": 6230.76}, {"text": "already taxed with the severity of the crisis we are facing workers and clients at Street Health running an unfunded", "start": 6230.76, "end": 6237.119}, {"text": "site cannot pick up the slack if we lose half of our City's supervised consumption capacity we are deeply", "start": 6237.119, "end": 6243.08}, {"text": "afraid of the incoming pressure on emergency services and communities and the inevitable loss of life that will", "start": 6243.08, "end": 6248.599}, {"text": "take place as a result of Bill 223 thank you for your time yeah thank you any", "start": 6248.599, "end": 6254.119}, {"text": "questions for Trevor seeing none coming in uh Stephanie", "start": 6254.119, "end": 6260.32}, {"text": "nner nner Stephanie nner you", "start": 6260.32, "end": 6268.52}, {"text": "he here you hear me yes we can five minutes go", "start": 6268.52, "end": 6274.28}, {"text": "ahead um am I on video you're not but we could hear you can you see me yes I can", "start": 6274.44, "end": 6281.28}, {"text": "see you now go ahead okay so first of all I'd like to thank all the attendees and thank you", "start": 6281.28, "end": 6287.119}, {"text": "for welcoming public opinions to this meeting my name is Stephanie neisner I'm a local mental health case manager", "start": 6287.119, "end": 6293.76}, {"text": "I've completed my education at the University of water and Humber College I've been working to provide public", "start": 6293.76, "end": 6299.08}, {"text": "services to vulnerable populations in Toronto for the past 5 years I work with", "start": 6299.08, "end": 6304.159}, {"text": "those who are struggling with their mental health to reach the goals they've set for themselves many of these goals revolve around changes in substance use", "start": 6304.159, "end": 6311.28}, {"text": "I'm speaking to warn the Board of Health of the consequences of the imminent closures of the supervised consumption", "start": 6311.28, "end": 6316.76}, {"text": "sites since approximately 2015 we have seen a sharp increase in fenal related deaths in Canada we see an average of 21", "start": 6316.76, "end": 6324.199}, {"text": "deaths per day and 17 hospitalizations these are not just numbers and the lives lost are valuable", "start": 6324.199, "end": 6330.119}, {"text": "people they have left behind mning families and friends lost souls and lost potential those speaking today see these", "start": 6330.119, "end": 6337.4}, {"text": "deaths and suffering up close and know people who have passed away people who are working on themselves and caring for", "start": 6337.4, "end": 6343.44}, {"text": "those around them it absolutely breaks my heart to see someone working so hard just to survive and be pushed down by so", "start": 6343.44, "end": 6349.88}, {"text": "many barriers of high grocery prices soaring rents and long waight lists for addiction and mental health supports if", "start": 6349.88, "end": 6356.76}, {"text": "you have not yet been personally touched by the toxic drug Supply crisis it's only a matter of time every single", "start": 6356.76, "end": 6362.32}, {"text": "person is closer to the grief and loss of toxic Supply than they realize to ignore this is to live in", "start": 6362.32, "end": 6368.56}, {"text": "denial our supervised conception sites and harm reduction measures have been a source of glowing hope for those at risk", "start": 6368.56, "end": 6374.96}, {"text": "they not only offer a safer space to use but linked to valuable supports nurses case managers counselors housing workers", "start": 6374.96, "end": 6382.159}, {"text": "and ID clinics these spaces began out of need and especially since the covid-19 pandemic", "start": 6382.159, "end": 6388.44}, {"text": "that need is only growing Bill 223 ignores our growing need and buries the fruits of our labor with the changes", "start": 6388.44, "end": 6395.36}, {"text": "outlined in this bill we will see our currently overwhelmed emergency response measures acting as ineffective overdose", "start": 6395.36, "end": 6401.84}, {"text": "prevention our emergency rooms will be filled with our dead and dying those struggling and unhoused will be pushed", "start": 6401.84, "end": 6407.84}, {"text": "into using substances in public spaces back alleys parks and bathrooms those", "start": 6407.84, "end": 6413.159}, {"text": "who are housed will be using a loan with no one to check if they still breathe no one to administer life-saving oxygen and", "start": 6413.159, "end": 6419.28}, {"text": "opioid antagonists these people will die alone in their homes but this reality is", "start": 6419.28, "end": 6424.4}, {"text": "not necessary our community came together to create safer use spaces and", "start": 6424.4, "end": 6429.599}, {"text": "now we come together to try to keep them opioid overdose deaths are preventable deaths if you are willing to prevent", "start": 6429.599, "end": 6436.639}, {"text": "them our community came in full force today to show that we do want to prevent them and we implore you our community", "start": 6436.639, "end": 6443.679}, {"text": "leaders to keep our supervised consumption seates sites open so that we can continue to prevent overdose deaths", "start": 6443.679, "end": 6451.32}, {"text": "we ask that you engage our city solicitor regarding legal challenges reporting back to the board on December", "start": 6451.32, "end": 6456.639}, {"text": "18th we ask that the minutor of minister of Health advise our city council about", "start": 6456.639, "end": 6461.679}, {"text": "the violent Health implications of Bill 223 for Toronto public health and we ask", "start": 6461.679, "end": 6467.28}, {"text": "that you put forth a motion to the city council to legally challenge Bill 223 on", "start": 6467.28, "end": 6472.56}, {"text": "the grounds that we as torontonians have the legal right and responsibility to invest in the health and safety of our", "start": 6472.56, "end": 6479.199}, {"text": "city residents thank you any questions for", "start": 6479.199, "end": 6484.679}, {"text": "the deput Sayan thank you for coming in today uh Justin niera ARA are you here", "start": 6484.679, "end": 6494.92}, {"text": "Justin okay you have five minutes", "start": 6494.92, "end": 6499.599}, {"text": "you can go ahead Justin thank you to the Board of Health", "start": 6503.96, "end": 6509.119}, {"text": "for allowing me to speak today my", "start": 6509.119, "end": 6512.52}, {"text": "name I'm here we could hear you go ahead and", "start": 6514.32, "end": 6519.679}, {"text": "speak thank you to the Board of Health speak today speak directly into your mic", "start": 6519.679, "end": 6524.92}, {"text": "if we actually you you're very uh muted to the Board of Health for", "start": 6524.92, "end": 6530.84}, {"text": "allowing me to speak today my name is just Isa I'm the harm reduction social worker Community member in constituent the city", "start": 6530.84, "end": 6537.56}, {"text": "in word n I'm here to speak on the recommendation by councelor Moyes that the Board of Health direct the medical", "start": 6537.56, "end": 6543.719}, {"text": "officer of Health in consultation with the city solicitor to submit comments on Bill 223 before December 18th", "start": 6543.719, "end": 6550.679}, {"text": "2024 to that I said forget the idea of comments we need action now the trespassing of Bill 223 was a", "start": 6550.679, "end": 6557.719}, {"text": "devastating gut wrenching notion that we should all be ashamed of we have been living in crisis many caused by the", "start": 6557.719, "end": 6563.679}, {"text": "decision of the current provincial government there is nothing about safety and saver streets and stronger", "start": 6563.679, "end": 6568.84}, {"text": "communities act that will protect us Clos to sa safe consumption sites and banning the application Pathway to any", "start": 6568.84, "end": 6574.76}, {"text": "future sites is a death sentence in Toronto safe consumption sites alone saved", "start": 6574.76, "end": 6581.88}, {"text": "o prevented near nearly 11,000 overdoses uh just between 2020 and 2024 the scale", "start": 6581.88, "end": 6589.199}, {"text": "back of har reduction services including distribution of new and sterile kits and ital exchange programs will result in", "start": 6589.199, "end": 6594.76}, {"text": "the increase of chronic chronic and bloodb infections for an already vulnerable Community closing the door to", "start": 6594.76, "end": 6600.88}, {"text": "save for Supply programs mean that many will not have access to evidence-based treatment in a nationwide toxic drug", "start": 6600.88, "end": 6605.92}, {"text": "Supply crisis Outreach workers drop in community health centers service providers across the center of mental", "start": 6605.92, "end": 6611.92}, {"text": "health and substance use are unders sourced underfunded we need funding that acknowledges and supports evidence", "start": 6611.92, "end": 6617.32}, {"text": "gathered for decades about already existing and life saving Healthcare the ballooning budget the Toronto police", "start": 6617.32, "end": 6623.52}, {"text": "services is a continuous lap in the face to many service providers presenting TPS as a role of safety joining Outreach", "start": 6623.52, "end": 6630}, {"text": "teams and standing by an emergency department is also a slap in the face what about any of this seems like safety", "start": 6630, "end": 6636.84}, {"text": "to you more importantly who is in the name of the safety for we cannot police", "start": 6636.84, "end": 6642.56}, {"text": "our way out of this we are facing Health emergencies we need housing we need a full spectrum of primary care including", "start": 6642.56, "end": 6648.679}, {"text": "harm reduction safe consumption s sites safe Supply we need accessible and voluntary treatment we need increased to", "start": 6648.679, "end": 6655.079}, {"text": "liable wages we need drug policy changes we need Community Care not police we cannot care for people that are dead", "start": 6655.079, "end": 6662.719}, {"text": "every life that is lost is the life of a son a daughter a parent a friend and we are all so tired of grieving closing", "start": 6662.719, "end": 6669.92}, {"text": "sites will not stop public drug use EMS response times will increase hospitals that are already overburden will F will", "start": 6669.92, "end": 6675.32}, {"text": "flail every czen will be at risk tools that safe consumption site workers will", "start": 6675.32, "end": 6680.4}, {"text": "have have will not be available to us and the ways that they show up for Community will disappear many of them", "start": 6680.4, "end": 6687.599}, {"text": "will be left with no place to turn the lives of many that will be H in the hands of the citizens not Healthcare", "start": 6687.599, "end": 6693.36}, {"text": "Providers continuing to increase police funding will not keep us safe or alive or of Health you have to acknowledge", "start": 6693.36, "end": 6700.48}, {"text": "that many people have entrusted you with their stories their experiences their perspectives there is no more time for", "start": 6700.48, "end": 6706.119}, {"text": "comments we need your leadership as the Board of Health to legally challenge the community care and Recovery Act to", "start": 6706.119, "end": 6711.96}, {"text": "protect health and the safety of torontonians more than ever we need Justice by a means of action and compassion not shame or a scale back in", "start": 6711.96, "end": 6718.88}, {"text": "the spectrum of services or support from the municipal government we ask that you instruct the Ministry of Health to", "start": 6718.88, "end": 6724.96}, {"text": "immediately advise city council including the mayor about the health implications at the bill for Toronto and Toronto Public Health we have said the", "start": 6724.96, "end": 6731.76}, {"text": "board instruct the chair to put a motion before city council at the next city council meeting to legally challenge", "start": 6731.76, "end": 6736.88}, {"text": "Community Care Recovery Act which encroaches on the jurisdiction of the city to protect the health and safety of", "start": 6736.88, "end": 6742}, {"text": "its own res I was there a note that a client gave to", "start": 6742, "end": 6749}, {"text": "me a client that was on a long time prescription of safe", "start": 6749, "end": 6754.28}, {"text": "Supply this note also has painting of a pule he drew himself picking up the", "start": 6754.28, "end": 6760.079}, {"text": "different pieces along he wrote thank you for helping me pick up the pieces when it can find when it could hardly", "start": 6760.079, "end": 6766.04}, {"text": "find a reason to salvage my own broken life but I am grateful that I had you and the services that I had to walk", "start": 6766.04, "end": 6772.719}, {"text": "there beside me and for that to be okay maybe not great but just in case I needed someone not to hate we will not", "start": 6772.719, "end": 6779.52}, {"text": "stop fighting for Community Based Care thank you kindly for your time thank you so much for coming in", "start": 6779.52, "end": 6785.76}, {"text": "today uh and the last speaker we have here is Emil Fetti", "start": 6785.76, "end": 6793.76}, {"text": "fette Emily yes hi go ahead five minutes", "start": 6796.4, "end": 6803.36}, {"text": "okay um hi I want to thank the Board of Health um for allowing me to speak today", "start": 6803.36, "end": 6809.04}, {"text": "my name is Emil fret I'm a nurse practitioner at Street Health I have 15 years of experience working in harm", "start": 6809.04, "end": 6815.52}, {"text": "reduction in both in Montreal and Toronto I have worked as a nurse in Needle exchanges hepsi Outreach teams", "start": 6815.52, "end": 6822.599}, {"text": "mental health and addiction teams I have worked at the works as uh supervised consumption site and until last summer I", "start": 6822.599, "end": 6829.639}, {"text": "was the NP uh at Toronto Public Health in injectable opioid Agonist Therapy", "start": 6829.639, "end": 6835.159}, {"text": "Program I'm going to repeat some of what uh the previous speaker have said um but", "start": 6835.159, "end": 6840.84}, {"text": "I feel it's important for these to be said and repeated and re-re repeated so that they can be", "start": 6840.84, "end": 6846.639}, {"text": "heard um saer consumption sites reverse overdoses daily they actively save lives", "start": 6846.639, "end": 6853.199}, {"text": "and help prevent poorer Health outcomes as well they help monitor a person after", "start": 6853.199, "end": 6858.4}, {"text": "an overdose they help with safety planning which helps prevents repeated", "start": 6858.4, "end": 6864.32}, {"text": "overdoses having a safe and clean environment to inject and having access to the appropriate material helps", "start": 6864.32, "end": 6871.04}, {"text": "prevent infections celulitis endocarditis hepatitis C and so many", "start": 6871.04, "end": 6876.44}, {"text": "other complications and I'm sorry I'm going to be pragmatic about this and sound maybe", "start": 6876.44, "end": 6881.679}, {"text": "callous to some of my co-workers or colleagues but these things are expensive to our health care System our", "start": 6881.679, "end": 6888.079}, {"text": "healthare system is already stretched and these are just going to add to it", "start": 6888.079, "end": 6894.079}, {"text": "safer consumption sitze helped limit the number of calls to Emergency Services as well closing these uh SCS will lead to", "start": 6894.079, "end": 6902.719}, {"text": "longer wait times for uh for 911 for emergency services but also for", "start": 6902.719, "end": 6908}, {"text": "emergency departments not only will closing the S the SCS um increase the overall number", "start": 6908, "end": 6915.84}, {"text": "of those of those calls um but also the places where people will be using such", "start": 6915.84, "end": 6921.56}, {"text": "as alleyway Parks public washrooms may lead to delays in response", "start": 6921.56, "end": 6926.639}, {"text": "to overdoses so this will not just mean that people will be dying in public", "start": 6926.639, "end": 6932.239}, {"text": "spaces because they will there's also the risk of having a delayed response to", "start": 6932.239, "end": 6937.679}, {"text": "an emergency situation leading to long-term consequences to the person", "start": 6937.679, "end": 6945.56}, {"text": "such as brain injuries these things are one more thing", "start": 6945.56, "end": 6950.96}, {"text": "that will be an extra load on our system", "start": 6950.96, "end": 6957.04}, {"text": "um yeah sues consumption sides also offer low barrier services this can help", "start": 6957.04, "end": 6964.52}, {"text": "people access services that they would not otherwise access many many individuals do not trust our health care", "start": 6964.52, "end": 6971.599}, {"text": "System many have fa faced stigma discrimination and judgment low barrier", "start": 6971.599, "end": 6977.92}, {"text": "services are necessary to help connect these individual to services forcing someone into treatment as we", "start": 6977.92, "end": 6985.599}, {"text": "know as we've seen in research puts the person at a higher risk of relapse and overdose when they leave the treatment", "start": 6985.599, "end": 6992.96}, {"text": "Place harm reduction services and supervis consumption sites can help the person's motivation and desire to act to", "start": 6992.96, "end": 7000.119}, {"text": "access detoxin rehab when they are ready we do not need less suis", "start": 7000.119, "end": 7005.8}, {"text": "consumption site and less harm reduction Services we actually need more we can", "start": 7005.8, "end": 7011.32}, {"text": "help um support in a more timely for more timely access to other low barrier", "start": 7011.32, "end": 7016.4}, {"text": "services such as detox rehab housing workers mental health supports ID clinics and Primary Health Care", "start": 7016.4, "end": 7024.04}, {"text": "supervisor in injection sites needle exchange safer Supply those are all ways", "start": 7024.04, "end": 7029.079}, {"text": "to access to access people um where they are and listen to them and", "start": 7029.079, "end": 7038.079}, {"text": "be the person that's there when they say you know I don't like this I want want to change these are the places where we", "start": 7038.079, "end": 7044.719}, {"text": "can make the most difference the most impact once again me talking about money", "start": 7044.719, "end": 7051.56}, {"text": "and cost and the stretch of our Health Care system is not to say that these people need less or they're going to be", "start": 7051.56, "end": 7058.04}, {"text": "a more of a burden this is to point out in terms that um politicians sometimes", "start": 7058.04, "end": 7064.96}, {"text": "understand a little bit more is the cost of it all it is cheaper in the long run", "start": 7064.96, "end": 7070.199}, {"text": "to continue with harm reduction than to move away from it these people deserve help they", "start": 7070.199, "end": 7078.599}, {"text": "deserve proper Healthcare they deserve timely health care so I urge the Board", "start": 7078.599, "end": 7084}, {"text": "of Health and city council to leverage your influence support the local efforts challenging Bill 223 instruct the board", "start": 7084, "end": 7092.04}, {"text": "chair and theoh to engage the city solicitor about legal responses to challenge the relevant parts of Bill 223", "start": 7092.04, "end": 7100.56}, {"text": "and report back to the board of to the board by December 18 instruct the Ministry of Health to immediately advise", "start": 7100.56, "end": 7108.079}, {"text": "city council including the mayor about the health implication of the bill for Toronto and public health finally I", "start": 7108.079, "end": 7115.4}, {"text": "asked the board uh instru their chair to put a motion before city council and the next", "start": 7115.4, "end": 7122.119}, {"text": "council meeting to legally challenge the community care and Recovery Act which", "start": 7122.119, "end": 7127.76}, {"text": "encroaches on the jurisdiction of the of the city to protect the health and safety of its", "start": 7127.76, "end": 7133.88}, {"text": "residents sites in the down thank you your time no problem", "start": 7133.88, "end": 7139.56}, {"text": "thanks apologies thank you so much seeing no for the questions uh we will", "start": 7139.56, "end": 7145.36}, {"text": "now uh take it in-house and ask the members if they have any questions of staff at Council perks go ahead thank", "start": 7145.36, "end": 7153.36}, {"text": "you uh my first question is uh maybe to the medical officer of Health I just", "start": 7153.36, "end": 7159.199}, {"text": "want to confirm at the last meeting of the board of Health we directed you to", "start": 7159.199, "end": 7164.88}, {"text": "uh begin that conversation with the city solicitor and also to begin a", "start": 7164.88, "end": 7169.96}, {"text": "conversation with the heads of Toronto's emergency services to report to our next", "start": 7169.96, "end": 7175.36}, {"text": "meeting is that correct do the chair that's correct counselor so uh you've already I assume", "start": 7175.36, "end": 7184.88}, {"text": "begun the conversation with the city solicitor about legal Avenues and so on", "start": 7184.88, "end": 7190.56}, {"text": "and and you're you and the city's list are currently working that through through the chair that is absolutely", "start": 7190.56, "end": 7197.239}, {"text": "correct and some of the the deputat raised some", "start": 7197.239, "end": 7202.639}, {"text": "particular uh issues legally speaking I imagine that's part of the conversation", "start": 7202.639, "end": 7208.28}, {"text": "maybe someone from the C city solicitor could comment yes we've got our city", "start": 7208.28, "end": 7213.36}, {"text": "city solicitor here yeah the yes through the chair our our report for January", "start": 7213.36, "end": 7220}, {"text": "20th will address the issues that have been raised okay and and the city solicitor is the", "start": 7220, "end": 7226.199}, {"text": "lawyer of the Board of Health as well yes that's correct yes I well I I'm the lawyer sorry I'm not the city solicor", "start": 7226.199, "end": 7232.56}, {"text": "I'm the lawyer for the Board of Health but you're you're employed under under the offices of the city solister so it's", "start": 7232.56, "end": 7238.8}, {"text": "effectively the same thing and uh potentially I'm not asking you to", "start": 7238.8, "end": 7245.44}, {"text": "forecast but potentially there could be instructions given by the Board of Health at that time", "start": 7245.44, "end": 7252.32}, {"text": "there could be yeah I think it's too early to tell we'll we'll have to discuss further at January 20th meeting", "start": 7252.32, "end": 7258.719}, {"text": "but um we can talk about that and and without revealing anything just just", "start": 7258.719, "end": 7264.88}, {"text": "generically speaking as part of that work I imagine uh you and and others from the", "start": 7264.88, "end": 7271.84}, {"text": "city solicitors office are in conversations with other other stakeholders", "start": 7271.84, "end": 7277.56}, {"text": "about uh about the legal issues here", "start": 7277.56, "end": 7282.599}, {"text": "yes we we've had some interaction with others in the community about potential", "start": 7282.599, "end": 7288.639}, {"text": "legal claims or challenges okay and to the medical officer of Health beyond the", "start": 7288.639, "end": 7294.92}, {"text": "work with the city solicitor a number of uh depents raised uh broader concerns", "start": 7294.92, "end": 7301.04}, {"text": "about the strains not on our Emergency Services uh paramedics police fire and", "start": 7301.04, "end": 7307.199}, {"text": "so on that's though you're going to be Consulting with the those Emergency", "start": 7307.199, "end": 7313.199}, {"text": "Services uh to as you develop advice for us for that next meeting through the", "start": 7313.199, "end": 7318.48}, {"text": "chair yes uh as you know councelor perks we've outlined at a high level our concerns um you know on behalf of some", "start": 7318.48, "end": 7325.52}, {"text": "of those Services recognizing you know as a provider ourselves how many overdoses are reversed within the", "start": 7325.52, "end": 7333.159}, {"text": "context of consumption and treatment services and SCS uh but we're getting further details uh premised on more", "start": 7333.159, "end": 7340.56}, {"text": "specific information whether it's from fire paramedics police Toronto Community", "start": 7340.56, "end": 7345.599}, {"text": "Crisis Support and uh as well um conversing with our partners uh in the", "start": 7345.599, "end": 7351.239}, {"text": "community and looking at hospital data as well thank you so much Mr chair those", "start": 7351.239, "end": 7357.48}, {"text": "were my questions thank you uh Deputy Mayor moley I think you had some", "start": 7357.48, "end": 7362.8}, {"text": "questions thank you Mr chair um and thank you to councelor perks who got", "start": 7362.8, "end": 7367.88}, {"text": "where I wanted to go as well in terms of the lineup questioning but I think just in terms of timing um of course these", "start": 7367.88, "end": 7373.84}, {"text": "are very very impactful and sensitive concerns um that we're navigating and I just wanted to understand uh in terms of", "start": 7373.84, "end": 7381}, {"text": "the anticipated timing of this bill the impacts of the closure and the timing on our end with the report back in January", "start": 7381, "end": 7388.239}, {"text": "can we just speak a little bit about that and if there's a need for us to think about advancing things maybe a", "start": 7388.239, "end": 7394.679}, {"text": "little bit sooner at um City Council next week so I I can start um Dr dlla through", "start": 7394.679, "end": 7403}, {"text": "the chair the bill has been passed um as of last week it's in force my", "start": 7403, "end": 7410}, {"text": "understanding as the closures um or the impacts the 200 meter prohibition is not", "start": 7410, "end": 7415.079}, {"text": "in effect until March or April 1st 2025 there are other um sections of the bill", "start": 7415.079, "end": 7422.92}, {"text": "that are in force as of the date of passing so those include the um the", "start": 7422.92, "end": 7429.159}, {"text": "restrictions on what Boards of health and municipalities can do in terms of applying for new exemptions or applying", "start": 7429.159, "end": 7434.639}, {"text": "for um funding from Health", "start": 7434.639, "end": 7438.559}, {"text": "Canada that's thank you okay thank you um see no other questions of Staff I'm", "start": 7440.88, "end": 7448.48}, {"text": "going to go to speakers uh Council of perks go ahead thank you uh I want to", "start": 7448.48, "end": 7454.8}, {"text": "begin by uh offering profound and heartfelt thanks to everyone who came", "start": 7454.8, "end": 7460.679}, {"text": "out here today uh many of us have uh been working on", "start": 7460.679, "end": 7466.76}, {"text": "this alongside you for years now and a number of us have also experienced", "start": 7466.76, "end": 7472.239}, {"text": "personal loss and and I just want to thank you for your your your", "start": 7472.239, "end": 7477.719}, {"text": "intelligence your compassion your thoughtfulness and also for your anger uh what the province is doing here", "start": 7477.719, "end": 7485.92}, {"text": "is is just reprehensible and I know that uh", "start": 7485.92, "end": 7491}, {"text": "everyone at Toronto public health and everyone on the board is just as committed as you are to pushing back on", "start": 7491, "end": 7500.4}, {"text": "this absolutely heinous decision by the province of Ontario which is not informed by evidence which is not", "start": 7500.4, "end": 7506.44}, {"text": "informed by wisdom or intelligence or compassion the way uh the folks that we", "start": 7506.44, "end": 7512.04}, {"text": "listen to here today are informed uh we cannot let this stand and we are", "start": 7512.04, "end": 7519.84}, {"text": "doing everything in our power uh both directly and and through our", "start": 7519.84, "end": 7525}, {"text": "other relationships to push back against it and we will continue to do that work", "start": 7525, "end": 7530.8}, {"text": "it it struck me listening to the deputations", "start": 7530.8, "end": 7536.36}, {"text": "um how on the other hand the province didn't even have committee hearings on", "start": 7536.36, "end": 7541.52}, {"text": "this and how the auditor general said the province didn't even", "start": 7541.52, "end": 7546.559}, {"text": "consult it's not much of a stretch to say they just didn't want to hear the truth they didn't want to hear your", "start": 7546.559, "end": 7553.079}, {"text": "truth and the and the truth of torontonians that was spoken in this meeting here today and that's why uh you", "start": 7553.079, "end": 7560}, {"text": "know I want to acknowledge also uh chair Mo uh for calling this as a special", "start": 7560, "end": 7566.32}, {"text": "meeting and for taking leadership to be outspoken on this and and convening us", "start": 7566.32, "end": 7571.84}, {"text": "together very quickly uh so that we could have these voices", "start": 7571.84, "end": 7577.559}, {"text": "heard uh as part of the campaign to stop the province for ceeding with this uh", "start": 7577.559, "end": 7583.639}, {"text": "let's all keep working this is something we can and must", "start": 7583.639, "end": 7589.76}, {"text": "win thank you Council perks any other speakers on the item depy M moley go ahead okay go ahead", "start": 7589.84, "end": 7598.88}, {"text": "Deputy thank you um Vice chair Bravo and Mr chair I just wanted to take a moment", "start": 7598.88, "end": 7604.52}, {"text": "to Echo uh the comments from my colleague Council perks and I just wanted to provide a heartfelt thank you", "start": 7604.52, "end": 7611.079}, {"text": "to the Advocates and organizers on the ground particularly those with lived in living experiences for taking the time", "start": 7611.079, "end": 7617.32}, {"text": "to to join us here today for championing this important issue and for continuing to put care and compassion first in your", "start": 7617.32, "end": 7624.559}, {"text": "work um this is important as counselor per said we have to win this we have to take better care of each other we have a", "start": 7624.559, "end": 7631.199}, {"text": "responsibility a shared responsibility so thank you so much for taking the time and we will continue to undertake this", "start": 7631.199, "end": 7637.079}, {"text": "important work and I want to acknowledge of course as well the leadership from our medical officer of Health um Dr", "start": 7637.079, "end": 7643.719}, {"text": "Dilla um all along I think has been an incredible Champion for this and sharing", "start": 7643.719, "end": 7649.079}, {"text": "the facts the data as we know and understand it and ensuring that we as a city are leading with compassion um and", "start": 7649.079, "end": 7655.88}, {"text": "with intelligence uh ensuring that this is a caring community that we can all be proud to be part of and that work will", "start": 7655.88, "end": 7663.079}, {"text": "be ongoing thank you so much thank you Deputy Mayor Morley councelor Bravo", "start": 7663.079, "end": 7668.84}, {"text": "thank you chair um I will my colleagues um words uh both Deputy Mayor Morley and", "start": 7668.84, "end": 7676.559}, {"text": "councelor perks and to say that it is um really", "start": 7676.559, "end": 7682.76}, {"text": "devastating that people have to come here to um speak the truth um that they", "start": 7682.76, "end": 7690.32}, {"text": "weren't able to uh to provide these words to the provincial government as it", "start": 7690.32, "end": 7695.559}, {"text": "considered uh how to proceed um of course we know that none of the these", "start": 7695.559, "end": 7701.76}, {"text": "actions have anything to do with protecting lives with ensuring um Fair", "start": 7701.76, "end": 7708.48}, {"text": "uh and Equitable Health outcomes for people and for meeting people where they are and providing them the services that", "start": 7708.48, "end": 7714.119}, {"text": "they need to live um and and to not just survive but to live a good life um in so", "start": 7714.119, "end": 7720.159}, {"text": "many different ways this provincial government is um undermining the essential rights and", "start": 7720.159, "end": 7727.32}, {"text": "freedoms that are guaranteed under the charter for people whether it's invoking um the potentially using the", "start": 7727.32, "end": 7733.44}, {"text": "notwithstanding Clause to deprive people who um are unhoused of their constitutional rights and in this case", "start": 7733.44, "end": 7740.239}, {"text": "um you know the majority of the debutant or all of them wanted to make sure that the city of Toronto um will join", "start": 7740.239, "end": 7748.76}, {"text": "alongside um anyone who is challenging the legality and um of what the provinal", "start": 7748.76, "end": 7755.599}, {"text": "government has done and I am certainly wanting to uh provide Comfort to all of", "start": 7755.599, "end": 7760.92}, {"text": "the people that came to speak to us and all the people that have been reaching out to my office and the conversations that I've had with community members and", "start": 7760.92, "end": 7767.84}, {"text": "Advocates uh to say that uh we are uh uh with you um and we have a process and", "start": 7767.84, "end": 7775}, {"text": "procedures um this is a special meeting that the chair called I I want to thank you chair for doing so because you've", "start": 7775, "end": 7781.76}, {"text": "provided um we've provided here a forum to hear um the truth and and uh to give", "start": 7781.76, "end": 7787.559}, {"text": "us the courage to continue to pursue by every means available um what is good", "start": 7787.559, "end": 7793.679}, {"text": "Public Health policy for uh the people of of Toronto thank you thank you dep", "start": 7793.679, "end": 7800.119}, {"text": "sorry SL bra um I want to make a few comments as well and I want to Echo the", "start": 7800.119, "end": 7806.719}, {"text": "what my uh colleagues just mentioned as well thank you to all the deput who came", "start": 7806.719, "end": 7812.679}, {"text": "in and really just told their truth and you know I was actually just it was", "start": 7812.679, "end": 7818.679}, {"text": "heartfelt and I felt it here i s de mamoy had tears in her eyes at one point", "start": 7818.679, "end": 7824}, {"text": "so we hear you uh we're not outside of this realm we're actually in it with you", "start": 7824, "end": 7830.28}, {"text": "I live in the city I live in the downtown core uh you know my background is addictions so I know this work", "start": 7830.28, "end": 7838.4}, {"text": "intimately um I also when this news first came forth you know I went to", "start": 7838.4, "end": 7846.199}, {"text": "various safe consumtion sites I spoke to uh the staff who worked and just told me", "start": 7846.199, "end": 7853.199}, {"text": "their testimonials and how this impacts them you know their work and also to the", "start": 7853.199, "end": 7859.559}, {"text": "clients themselves are like family um I spoke to some clients myself and you know they told me how they felt and how", "start": 7859.559, "end": 7867.36}, {"text": "they feel unseen and unheard so I'm on the ground and I hear it and I know this board uh have stated", "start": 7867.36, "end": 7876.599}, {"text": "very clearly from the outset um at every opportunity that we do not support the", "start": 7876.599, "end": 7882.4}, {"text": "closures of safe consumption sites you know we pass motions here at the board we pass motions at Council uh the mayor", "start": 7882.4, "end": 7889.079}, {"text": "have spoken out against it as well so we have that everything that we can in in", "start": 7889.079, "end": 7895.52}, {"text": "in in in the way that we're able to um and we'll continue to to stress those", "start": 7895.52, "end": 7901.36}, {"text": "points as well I do have a motion I did mentioned that right um so again initially was to", "start": 7901.36, "end": 7909.679}, {"text": "give direction to the solicitor to make comments to the", "start": 7909.679, "end": 7915.159}, {"text": "province uh opposing the closure of safe consultant sites um and as you know the", "start": 7915.159, "end": 7922.199}, {"text": "province has fast-tracked this and they uh stopped uh any public", "start": 7922.199, "end": 7928.44}, {"text": "hearings and this was officially passed on December 4th so this is after the fact", "start": 7928.44, "end": 7936.119}, {"text": "this motion is actually actually um to for the for the medical office of health", "start": 7936.119, "end": 7943.079}, {"text": "and the chair to submit the letter nonetheless uh to the ministry saying", "start": 7943.079, "end": 7949.159}, {"text": "that you know we do not support the closures of uh safe consumtion sites and to also address the safe stre stronger", "start": 7949.159, "end": 7956.119}, {"text": "communities act so I do hope that uh my colleagues", "start": 7956.119, "end": 7961.28}, {"text": "here will support this uh the fight will continue even though this has been this", "start": 7961.28, "end": 7967.679}, {"text": "has passed we know what will happen after uh March 31st we know that people will", "start": 7967.679, "end": 7974.96}, {"text": "die as a result of this right um and I do hope that there's the province will", "start": 7974.96, "end": 7981.4}, {"text": "have a change of heart at the end of the day because there's still time to make the right", "start": 7981.4, "end": 7987.44}, {"text": "decision I see there's two hands up Council perks and then Deputy May Morley", "start": 7987.44, "end": 7992.679}, {"text": "go ahead yeah just just to prevent any confusion Mr chair um", "start": 7992.679, "end": 7998.8}, {"text": "the your motion did strike out the bit about the city solicitor but that's only in terms of writing to the province we", "start": 7998.8, "end": 8006.119}, {"text": "are still going to be getting advice from the city solicitor at our next meeting uh on the legalities of what the", "start": 8006.119, "end": 8013.679}, {"text": "province is doing correct absolutely correct okay just folks need to know that yeah de you have a question as well", "start": 8013.679, "end": 8022.48}, {"text": "just the exact same thing Mr chair I think the real call to action we heard loud and clear today was around the city", "start": 8022.48, "end": 8028.239}, {"text": "understanding our legal options around challenging this bill and so I just wanted to be crystal clear as well that", "start": 8028.239, "end": 8034.44}, {"text": "that work is is undertaken and it will be coming forward in addition to uh the motion that you're moving here today I", "start": 8034.44, "end": 8040.639}, {"text": "just wanted to be really crystal clear about that that's yeah that's correct and that will be the January uh 20th", "start": 8040.639, "end": 8047.239}, {"text": "meeting or 21st meeting whichever date that is okay wonderful um seeing no other", "start": 8047.239, "end": 8053.44}, {"text": "questions I'll uh ask for a vote on this all those in favor opposed carried thank", "start": 8053.44, "end": 8059.84}, {"text": "you and that brings to the end of our agenda I want to thank uh again everyone for attending today and for deputing", "start": 8059.84, "end": 8067.199}, {"text": "today um it was a good meeting and uh your valued and appreciate it have a", "start": 8067.199, "end": 8073.239}, {"text": "good afternoon bye bye everyone bye Mr chair bye everyone", "start": 8073.239, "end": 8082.079}]