Ontario government opening HART Hub in Kingston, Ont. in October

Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones speaks at a press conference at Queen’s Park in Toronto, on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Laura Proctor

The Ontario government says a supervised drug consumption site in Kingston will be transitioning to a Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub this fall.

The province said the “last remaining provincially funded drug injection site” is closing on Sept. 30. It will transition to the HART Hub the following day.

“Our government is focused on real solutions that provide those struggling with addiction the supports they need to break the tragic cycle of addiction,” said Health Minister and Deputy Premier Sylvia Jones in a news release on Friday. “The new HART Hub in Kingston will connect vulnerable residents with the resources they need to rebuild their lives while protecting Ontario communities from dangerous behaviour driven by the increase and open use of illegal drugs.”

The Kingston Community Health Centre (KCHC) operates a consumption and treatment services site on Montreal Street.

The province says the transition will double the amount of money it spends on the site, bringing it to $6.3 million a year.

“The hub will be designed by its community to respond to local priorities and will include services such as mental health and addictions supports, primary care, supportive housing, social services and employment supports,” the province said.

In 2024, two people were killed and a third person was seriously injured in an attack at an encampment near the Integrated Care Hub on Montreal Street, prompting Mayor Bryan Paterson to call for the supervised consumption site to be closed.

Paterson said in a statement to CTV News Ottawa on Friday the City of Kingston will be working to support the transition to the HART Hub.

“With this expanded funding, we have a meaningful opportunity to improve access to mental health and addiction services and provide more coordinated, community-based care for residents who need it most,” Paterson said.

HART Hubs do not offer needle exchanges, supervised drug consumption, or safer supply services.

“We understand that this transition may raise questions and concerns within the community and among people who rely on these services. The City will continue to work closely with KCHC, (Addiction and Mental Health Services – Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington) and other community partners and service providers as winddown and transition plans are developed and the new HART Hub services are fully defined,” the City of Kingston said in a news release on Friday.

CTV News Ottawa has reached out to Kingston Community Health Centre for comment.

In a statement in March, KCHC said the province informed them funding for the consumption site would be pulled in June and immediately began planning for a closure, while awaiting a formal, written notification specific to Kingston.

“Across Kingston, there has been a strong and unified response from community partners, staff, and leaders who are working urgently to support clients and explore options to sustain critical services,” KCHC said on March 26. “We are grateful for the City’s advocacy and leadership during this time.”

Ontario announced in March that it was ending funding for seven active supervised drug consumption sites in the province, including sites at Ottawa Inner City Health and the Sandy Hill Community Health Centre in Ottawa. It follows the closure of the supervised consumption site at the Somerset West Community Health Centre in Ottawa.

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