Waterloo Region Drug Action Team
@wrdrugactionteam.bsky.social
Community-led effort to action solutions to Waterloo Region's drug poisoning tragedy. It's a crisis, not a spectator sport! Unfunded. Volunteer. Non-partisan. Honest. Find us on Insta at: @wrdrugactionteam
Reposted by Waterloo Region Drug Action Team
[Webinar] Explore how drug policy & migration intersect, the rights & freedoms at stake, & what it takes to build policies that protect people—amid fear-driven politics from “fentanyl czar” to Bills C-2 & C-12, & Canada’s complicity in U.S. actions abroad.
Register: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Register: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Confronting Fear-Based Politics – Drug Policy, Borders and Migration . After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.
In times of uncertainty, politicians scapegoat marginalized communities—blaming groups like migrants and people who use drugs for complex societal challenges. From the creation of a "fentanyl czar" to...
us06web.zoom.us
November 12, 2025 at 8:28 PM
[Webinar] Explore how drug policy & migration intersect, the rights & freedoms at stake, & what it takes to build policies that protect people—amid fear-driven politics from “fentanyl czar” to Bills C-2 & C-12, & Canada’s complicity in U.S. actions abroad.
Register: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Register: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Reposted by Waterloo Region Drug Action Team
Sharing this article again because it's the culmination of a few months of work from me - and people should be reading about it.
Ontario Cities Are Clearing Homeless Encampments. Where Are People Supposed to Go?
Amidst a housing crisis with no end in sight, municipalities across the province have been cracking down on the unhoused
pressprogress.ca
October 24, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Sharing this article again because it's the culmination of a few months of work from me - and people should be reading about it.
UPDATE: The Government of Ontario has now formally voted AGAINST creating a plan to eliminate homelessness within 10 years. Data from across Ontario continues to reflect the absence of provincial success. Gratitude to @aislinnclancy.bsky.social for your efforts to #ProtectOntario
October 23, 2025 at 4:25 PM
UPDATE: The Government of Ontario has now formally voted AGAINST creating a plan to eliminate homelessness within 10 years. Data from across Ontario continues to reflect the absence of provincial success. Gratitude to @aislinnclancy.bsky.social for your efforts to #ProtectOntario
#BREAKING
The P.C.-led Government of Ontario has just voted AGAINST ending homelessness within 10 years via the Housing Ends Homeless Act, legislation supported by Greens, Liberal, and NDP MPPs.
Bill 28: www.ola.org/en/legislati...
The P.C.-led Government of Ontario has just voted AGAINST ending homelessness within 10 years via the Housing Ends Homeless Act, legislation supported by Greens, Liberal, and NDP MPPs.
Bill 28: www.ola.org/en/legislati...
October 22, 2025 at 11:13 PM
#BREAKING
The P.C.-led Government of Ontario has just voted AGAINST ending homelessness within 10 years via the Housing Ends Homeless Act, legislation supported by Greens, Liberal, and NDP MPPs.
Bill 28: www.ola.org/en/legislati...
The P.C.-led Government of Ontario has just voted AGAINST ending homelessness within 10 years via the Housing Ends Homeless Act, legislation supported by Greens, Liberal, and NDP MPPs.
Bill 28: www.ola.org/en/legislati...
Cambridge, Ontario:
"A place for people to prosper - alive with opportunity."
www.cambridgetoday.ca/local-news/c...
"A place for people to prosper - alive with opportunity."
www.cambridgetoday.ca/local-news/c...
September 24, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Cambridge, Ontario:
"A place for people to prosper - alive with opportunity."
www.cambridgetoday.ca/local-news/c...
"A place for people to prosper - alive with opportunity."
www.cambridgetoday.ca/local-news/c...
Reposted by Waterloo Region Drug Action Team
"Region cannot enforce encampment-clearing bylaw until after November hearing decision." - CTV News
Check out the news segment at bit.ly/47alX8W
Check out the news segment at bit.ly/47alX8W
Court rules in favour of Kitchener encampment residents, pausing plans to evict them
The Region of Waterloo’s plans to evict residents at a Kitchener encampment have been put on hold after a judge ruled in favour of the residents.
bit.ly
August 22, 2025 at 3:15 PM
"Region cannot enforce encampment-clearing bylaw until after November hearing decision." - CTV News
Check out the news segment at bit.ly/47alX8W
Check out the news segment at bit.ly/47alX8W
Reposted by Waterloo Region Drug Action Team
Great new!👍The Court has granted an injunction for the 100Vic Encampment Case! The Region is restrained from enforcing its Site-Specific By-law until the constitutionality of the bylaw can be determined following the hearing in November.
Read the decision at: wrcls.ca/3878-2
Read the decision at: wrcls.ca/3878-2
August 21, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Great new!👍The Court has granted an injunction for the 100Vic Encampment Case! The Region is restrained from enforcing its Site-Specific By-law until the constitutionality of the bylaw can be determined following the hearing in November.
Read the decision at: wrcls.ca/3878-2
Read the decision at: wrcls.ca/3878-2
Injunction!
May the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms prevail. Huge gratitude due to @wrlegalservices.bsky.social and many more.
www.therecord.com/news/waterlo...
May the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms prevail. Huge gratitude due to @wrlegalservices.bsky.social and many more.
www.therecord.com/news/waterlo...
BREAKING: Judge sides with encampment residents, pausing Waterloo Region’s eviction plans
The Superior Court of Ontario has ruled in favour of the residents at the Victoria Street encampment in downtown Kitchener, pausing any plans to remove them from the site.
www.therecord.com
August 21, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Injunction!
May the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms prevail. Huge gratitude due to @wrlegalservices.bsky.social and many more.
www.therecord.com/news/waterlo...
May the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms prevail. Huge gratitude due to @wrlegalservices.bsky.social and many more.
www.therecord.com/news/waterlo...
Reposted by Waterloo Region Drug Action Team
Doug Ford was asked about misrepresenting crime stats in Somerset Ward and showed that he doesn’t even know where our neighbourhood is on a map.
August 20, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Doug Ford was asked about misrepresenting crime stats in Somerset Ward and showed that he doesn’t even know where our neighbourhood is on a map.
Reposted by Waterloo Region Drug Action Team
Ontario misled the public on crime data to justify closing supervised consumption sites. Evidence shows these services save lives & improve community safety. #HarmReduction tinyurl.com/ybuhw3hf
August 20, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Ontario misled the public on crime data to justify closing supervised consumption sites. Evidence shows these services save lives & improve community safety. #HarmReduction tinyurl.com/ybuhw3hf
Reposted by Waterloo Region Drug Action Team
the media reported that at the time, a year ago.
is there any reason to believe that facts are suddenly relevant now? this is a serious question.
www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/arti...
is there any reason to believe that facts are suddenly relevant now? this is a serious question.
www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/arti...
August 20, 2025 at 12:58 PM
the media reported that at the time, a year ago.
is there any reason to believe that facts are suddenly relevant now? this is a serious question.
www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/arti...
is there any reason to believe that facts are suddenly relevant now? this is a serious question.
www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/arti...
Reposted by Waterloo Region Drug Action Team
The closure of the supervised consumption site has made the community less safe. With no place to go, people are using drugs on the street and closer to children. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Is Chinatown safer without a supervised consumption site? Neighbours say no | CBC News
Two months after Somerset West Community Health Centre closed its injection site, neighbours say they've witnessed a surge in public drug use.
www.cbc.ca
August 19, 2025 at 11:32 AM
The closure of the supervised consumption site has made the community less safe. With no place to go, people are using drugs on the street and closer to children. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Reposted by Waterloo Region Drug Action Team
Yesterday, @cmckenney.bsky.social
and I confronted Health Minister Sylvia Jones about the unsubstantiated statistics that she used to justify closing the supervised consumption site at the Somerset West Community Health Centre.
and I confronted Health Minister Sylvia Jones about the unsubstantiated statistics that she used to justify closing the supervised consumption site at the Somerset West Community Health Centre.
August 20, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Yesterday, @cmckenney.bsky.social
and I confronted Health Minister Sylvia Jones about the unsubstantiated statistics that she used to justify closing the supervised consumption site at the Somerset West Community Health Centre.
and I confronted Health Minister Sylvia Jones about the unsubstantiated statistics that she used to justify closing the supervised consumption site at the Somerset West Community Health Centre.
"We are going to make sure we find proper shelter for these people." - Premier Doug Ford, 2024 #ProtectOntario #AMO2025
August 18, 2025 at 6:37 PM
"We are going to make sure we find proper shelter for these people." - Premier Doug Ford, 2024 #ProtectOntario #AMO2025
25,000 un-prevented #overdose deaths - and so many injuries - since the Ontario government came to Queen’s Park in 2018 and made a preventable crisis much worse, for everyone, everywhere. Ontario's PC drug policies remain deadly in 2025- OBVIOUSLY. #IOAD2025 #ProtectOntario #Onmuni #AMO2025
August 18, 2025 at 5:17 PM
25,000 un-prevented #overdose deaths - and so many injuries - since the Ontario government came to Queen’s Park in 2018 and made a preventable crisis much worse, for everyone, everywhere. Ontario's PC drug policies remain deadly in 2025- OBVIOUSLY. #IOAD2025 #ProtectOntario #Onmuni #AMO2025
One year after the #ONgov's #AMO announcement to abandon evidence-based public service and defund #CTS #SCS sites - over the unequivocal advice of internal and external advisors and then some - @jackhauen.bsky.social follows up. #ProtectOntario
READ: www.cambridgetoday.ca/local-news/o...
READ: www.cambridgetoday.ca/local-news/o...
August 18, 2025 at 12:28 AM
One year after the #ONgov's #AMO announcement to abandon evidence-based public service and defund #CTS #SCS sites - over the unequivocal advice of internal and external advisors and then some - @jackhauen.bsky.social follows up. #ProtectOntario
READ: www.cambridgetoday.ca/local-news/o...
READ: www.cambridgetoday.ca/local-news/o...
Reposted by Waterloo Region Drug Action Team
In St. Mary's, ON? Consider going to support this IOAD event! Flag raising and speakers starting at 9:30am EST, Aug. 31st.
Please see poster for more details.
Please see poster for more details.
August 13, 2025 at 3:12 PM
In St. Mary's, ON? Consider going to support this IOAD event! Flag raising and speakers starting at 9:30am EST, Aug. 31st.
Please see poster for more details.
Please see poster for more details.
Tuesday August 12, 6:30pm onwards. Roos Island, Willow Park, Kitchener.
kitchener.citynews.ca/2025/08/11/w...
kitchener.citynews.ca/2025/08/11/w...
August 11, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Tuesday August 12, 6:30pm onwards. Roos Island, Willow Park, Kitchener.
kitchener.citynews.ca/2025/08/11/w...
kitchener.citynews.ca/2025/08/11/w...
Reposted by Waterloo Region Drug Action Team
"Other users named in the documents include municipal police in Edmonton, Waterloo, Hamilton, Saskatoon & York, the provincial police forces in ON and QC, the ON and Toronto police unions and every ministry of the ON govt"
SCOOP 🧵
Two years after being caught using Clearview AI facial recognition software, Calgary police signed contracts for "image recognition" software that scours photos and videos for individuals. 1/
drugdatadecoded.ca/calgary-poli...
Two years after being caught using Clearview AI facial recognition software, Calgary police signed contracts for "image recognition" software that scours photos and videos for individuals. 1/
drugdatadecoded.ca/calgary-poli...
Calgary police "image recognition" software identifies individuals in photos & videos posted online
Documents show that two years after being caught using Clearview AI facial recognition software, Calgary police signed contracts for AI software that scours photos and videos for individuals. Have pol...
drugdatadecoded.ca
August 6, 2025 at 2:40 PM
"Other users named in the documents include municipal police in Edmonton, Waterloo, Hamilton, Saskatoon & York, the provincial police forces in ON and QC, the ON and Toronto police unions and every ministry of the ON govt"
August 12, 6:30pm onwards. Come!
The harm reduction community has been hit hard this year. We've lost friends, family, life saving services and parts of ourselves to policies that continue to fail us. But still, we gather. Still, we care for one another. Still, we resist.
The harm reduction community has been hit hard this year. We've lost friends, family, life saving services and parts of ourselves to policies that continue to fail us. But still, we gather. Still, we care for one another. Still, we resist.
August 1, 2025 at 10:42 PM
August 12, 6:30pm onwards. Come!
The harm reduction community has been hit hard this year. We've lost friends, family, life saving services and parts of ourselves to policies that continue to fail us. But still, we gather. Still, we care for one another. Still, we resist.
The harm reduction community has been hit hard this year. We've lost friends, family, life saving services and parts of ourselves to policies that continue to fail us. But still, we gather. Still, we care for one another. Still, we resist.
Reposted by Waterloo Region Drug Action Team
"We cannot continue to claim we are pursuing a human rights-based approach if, at critical moments like these, we refuse to take responsibility for meaningful change and fail to act in accordance with the very principles we proclaim ourselves wishing to uphold."
#HumanRIghts #Unsheltered
#HumanRIghts #Unsheltered
July 15, 2025 at 9:36 PM
"We cannot continue to claim we are pursuing a human rights-based approach if, at critical moments like these, we refuse to take responsibility for meaningful change and fail to act in accordance with the very principles we proclaim ourselves wishing to uphold."
#HumanRIghts #Unsheltered
#HumanRIghts #Unsheltered
Reposted by Waterloo Region Drug Action Team
Today, during a heatwave, Cambridge bylaw and police used heavy machinery to throw out 4 unhoused peoples personal belongings. With no suitable shelter options, they face serious health risks. Evictions should be paused during extreme weather. Learn a better way: homelesshub.ca/book/office-...
July 15, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Today, during a heatwave, Cambridge bylaw and police used heavy machinery to throw out 4 unhoused peoples personal belongings. With no suitable shelter options, they face serious health risks. Evictions should be paused during extreme weather. Learn a better way: homelesshub.ca/book/office-...
Reposted by Waterloo Region Drug Action Team
@hivlegalnetwork.bsky.social and @hracollective.bsky.social are co-hosting a series of incredible speakers from across the country to mark the annual Global Day of Action!
REGISTER HERE: www.eventbrite.ca/e/care-not-c...
#SupportDontPunish #HarmReduction #CareNotCriminalization
REGISTER HERE: www.eventbrite.ca/e/care-not-c...
#SupportDontPunish #HarmReduction #CareNotCriminalization
June 24, 2025 at 3:35 PM
@hivlegalnetwork.bsky.social and @hracollective.bsky.social are co-hosting a series of incredible speakers from across the country to mark the annual Global Day of Action!
REGISTER HERE: www.eventbrite.ca/e/care-not-c...
#SupportDontPunish #HarmReduction #CareNotCriminalization
REGISTER HERE: www.eventbrite.ca/e/care-not-c...
#SupportDontPunish #HarmReduction #CareNotCriminalization
Reposted by Waterloo Region Drug Action Team
Our new resource – created in partnership with @pivotlegalsociety.bsky.social and @candrugpolicy.bsky.social lays out the legal implications of operating an Overdose Prevention Site in Ontario and protections for operators and patrons.
www.hivlegalnetwork.ca/site/it-is-n...
www.hivlegalnetwork.ca/site/it-is-n...
June 20, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Our new resource – created in partnership with @pivotlegalsociety.bsky.social and @candrugpolicy.bsky.social lays out the legal implications of operating an Overdose Prevention Site in Ontario and protections for operators and patrons.
www.hivlegalnetwork.ca/site/it-is-n...
www.hivlegalnetwork.ca/site/it-is-n...
Reposted by Waterloo Region Drug Action Team
📢 New study shows safe supply saves lives.
Research in ON found people on safer opioid supply (like hydromorphone) had fewer overdoses, ER visits & deaths, even those with complex health needs.
It’s not either/or with methadone. We need both.
#SupportDontPunish #SafeSupplyWorks
Research in ON found people on safer opioid supply (like hydromorphone) had fewer overdoses, ER visits & deaths, even those with complex health needs.
It’s not either/or with methadone. We need both.
#SupportDontPunish #SafeSupplyWorks
"A recent study shows safe supply may be a more effective treatment option than methadone for those most at risk." By @maddidellplain.bsky.social
healthydebate.ca/2025/06/topi...
healthydebate.ca/2025/06/topi...
Safe supply an effective treatment tool despite political backlash, study confirms - Healthy Debate
New study shows that safe supply may be a more effective treatment option than methadone for those most at risk,.
healthydebate.ca
June 12, 2025 at 4:45 PM
📢 New study shows safe supply saves lives.
Research in ON found people on safer opioid supply (like hydromorphone) had fewer overdoses, ER visits & deaths, even those with complex health needs.
It’s not either/or with methadone. We need both.
#SupportDontPunish #SafeSupplyWorks
Research in ON found people on safer opioid supply (like hydromorphone) had fewer overdoses, ER visits & deaths, even those with complex health needs.
It’s not either/or with methadone. We need both.
#SupportDontPunish #SafeSupplyWorks