The future of a proposed safe injection site in St.Catharines is still unclear after a provincial announcement today.
Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott says the province will continue to fund overdose-prevention sites but will change their name and focus.
Elliott says a review of the sites has concluded the existing model must shift from overdose prevention to also include a longer-term goal of helping drug users receive treatment and rehabilitation services.
The minister says the province will approve no more than 21 overdose-prevention sites and the existing facilities can apply to continue to operate under the new government model.
In St.Catharines the PC government put plans on hold to open a new site at Positive Living Niagara on Queenston Street.
Executive Director Glen Walker says the announcement will affect the site, but they don't have any specifics.
He is expecting some discussion with the Ministry tomorrow.
He says they are excited that sites will be allowed to be developed and it appears that St.Catharines will be included in that group but as of the moment they do not have confirmation.