A petition calling for Hamilton City Council to designate public libraries as safe drug consumption sites will be debated at the upcoming meeting of Hamilton’s Public Health Sub-Committee.
The 115 signatories want the City of Hamilton to create and fund ‘safe drug consumption sites’ outside Hamilton’s public libraries.
The petition requests that the City install heated shelters, similar to those used for bus stops, outside libraries to reduce indoor drug use. It states that there should be “no cameras” monitoring these spaces because trained staff should be present at all times.
The petition states that the City should begin at the Central, Barton, and Red Hill branches.
It also calls for increasing the “availability of social services AT” libraries. [Petition’s emphasis.]
The provincial government closed Hamilton’s supervised consumption site as part of a province-wide policy change to implement treatment-focused HART sites, which Premier Doug Ford says will better assist people to get supports towards permanent housing and to address addictions.
Petitioner Tyler Dhaliwal will delegate and present the petition to the committee.
The Committee will meet on Monday, April 28, 2025, beginning at 9:30 a.m.
Public correspondence can be sent to clerks@hamilton.ca, or delegation requests made on the City website, until 12:00 noon on Friday.
Addendum:
Ward 2 Councillor Cameron Kroetsch, who chairs the Public Health Sub-Committee, posted to Facebook this evening to state the petitioners have the right to delegate to Council, and that the petition is included in the agenda package “so everyone could see it.”
“It’s there for information, not for approval, just so the citizen members of the Sub-Committee didn’t have trouble finding it. I did this to ensure it was accessible and easy to find and for no other reason,” he writes.
The petition is captured in the image below.
Production Details
v. 1.0.0
Published: April 23, 2025
Last updated: April 23, 2025
Author: Joey Coleman
Update Record
v. 1.0.0 original version
v. 1.1.0 added Facebook comments posted by Clr Kroetsch
Discussion
47 commentsI fully recognize the importance of providing safe consumption sites for individuals who need them, and I support harm reduction efforts that prioritize safety, dignity, and access to support.
However, I strongly disagree with the proposal to use public libraries—particularly those frequented by families and children—as locations for these sites.
As a parent, I should not have to explain to my 8- and 12-year-old children why people are using drugs on the sidewalk outside a library, nor should they be exposed to the trauma of witnessing someone overdose in a space meant for learning, creativity, and community. Libraries play a vital role in our communities and should remain safe, inclusive environments for all, especially young children.
I have personally administered naloxone to individuals in crisis, and I deeply empathize with the reality of addiction. I support safe consumption sites—but in appropriate settings, staffed by trained professionals and designed specifically for that purpose. Libraries, especially central branches with extensive maker spaces and children’s programming, are not suitable venues.
Let’s support those in need without compromising the safety and purpose of public spaces meant to educate, uplift, and bring communities together.
As a neighbor of Central Library/collateral damage I can confirm points six and seven.
This is a terrible idea for the reasons the other commenters have pointed out.
So sick of these do-gooders who don’t think (or care) about the harm they cause.
This has to be one of the most ill-conceived ideas I have ever heard of. Libraries are for learning and are not there to give refuge for drug users. Whoever thought this idea up should give their head a shake. Could you imagine your child going to the library standing next to a guy waiting to get his next fix? I do not agree with this at all and think it is utterly foolish.
Lets make a place where minors have easy access to drugs. Definitely bad idea.
What is happening Hamilton?
A place to raise your family you say? We’ve lost our parks, we’ve lost our rights as tax paying citizens, my property gets stolen or damaged, my children can NOT be outside because of the crack/meth/fentanyl heads wandering around, YES please make libraries an awful place too…. why not just set up on school playgrounds, lots of space there
This city is absolutely disgusting and an embarrasment. If the opportunity arises, I will leave in a heart beat….. My hometown of Hamilton does not feel the same
This petition is so brilliant, it’s like saying, “Hey, let’s fight fire… with more fire, but make sure everyone has a library card first!” I can just picture the scene: “Excuse me, could you keep it down? Some of us are trying to overdose quietly in the non-fiction section.” Maybe they can even offer “story time” with a special guest speaker on the dangers of… well, you know. And I’m sure the librarians will now have “trained overdose response” listed right under “shushing unruly patrons” in their job description. This isn’t a solution; it’s a plotline for a very dark comedy.
This is great, I can finally smoke weed in the library!
Is our city council going to prioritize the drug addicts over our children, again?!
And the city wonders why the residents of Hamilton don’t trust our council.
It’s a disgrace that our council is wasting time on this proposal. I’m not ok with my tax dollars being squandered on such non sensical and ridiculous attempts to endanger public safety and to perpetuate someone’s addiction and illness.
The city is a mess, hasn’t council got better things to do than entertain this ridiculous idea?
Hi Rob,
Understandable sentiment. This is a ‘controversial’ delegation that is at the edge, or even outside, the Overton window on this topic.
Council needs to, to paraphrase, ‘waste time’ on hearing from a resident who is petitioning them on any issue.
Following the delegate’s five minutes, the committee can simply thank the delegate and do nothing further.
(Please excuse my usual freedom of expression / right to seek redress in a democracy soapbox speech.)
The ability of those we disagree with to speak is insurance that we can speak when others disagree with us.
I would be deeply concerned if Council outright denied a delegation (with some extremely narrow exceptions for jurisdiction, repetitiveness, and/or vexatiousness measured at a very high standard) because they disagree with the viewpoint.
I’ve steadfastly upheld the Charter rights of those most commonly referred to as “anti-vaxxers” to sit in the Council Chamber holding their signs. I’ve had those signs in my face [the claim that journalists should be put to trial] and had a few of them express [in a peaceful manner] their viewpoints against my wearing a face mask.
That’s democracy.
We’ll see what happens on Monday. I do not expect any elected officials to support this petition.
True, Council is obligated to hear the delegate. I wish I could be as certain as you that our elected officials wouldn’t support the petition. It sounds like something the Ward 2 councillor would come up with.
Seriously? Everyone made a fuss before over consumption sites being open too close to schools, some which were then closed… but now it’s ok to open them close to libraries? Hypocrisy much?
Hell no!!! Start a counter petition. Library employees have enough to deal with, as the library is treated like a homeless shelter already. The first floor of Central is almost entirely used by people strung out or sleeping. The library is not a daycare for drug addicts.
This is a stupid idea. Librarians went to school with a very specific focus and job expectation in mind. They are being forced to be social workers for the unhoused and now they have to be addiction workers?? I’m sorry, no. I go to the library all the time and I can’t sit down with a book because all the seats are taken by people doing the fentanyl fold.
And also, when can we finally admit that harm reduction isn’t working? I have been to other cities (even with depressed economic neighbourhoods) and they do NOT look like ours. We need answers, but the LIBRARY isn’t it.
I agree. Looking at the city’s opioid statistics and knowing our SCS sites opened in 2018 and 2022, we are no better when you compare to 2018 stats. (Strictly looking at 911 calls and opioid deaths)
https://www.hamilton.ca/people-programs/public-health/alcohol-drugs-gambling/hamilton-opioid-information-system
There is no way that this should ever be considered. While consumption sites are needed, they should not be in or around any public use building. They need to consider the general public safety before they approve this petition.
Substance use disorders (SUD) are a mental health disorder. The Harris government dumped the administration of these types of issues onto the municipality so they could decide where to administer the treatments. Its a mental health concern like alcoholism or gambling addiction not education or recreation. Hamilton hospitals need to add this to there long list of responsibilities, emergency, urgent care facilities may be a better location, or in the local affected area (Jackson square) if thats where they end up Doug. This will become a thin edge of a provincial wedge.
First of all this is insane. Secondly,any attempt made to humour this issue mustcbe dealt with immediate dismissal.
This is outrageous to even consider. As a home owner and tax payer born and raised in Hamilton I feel betrayed by our city. It feels like I am supporting these drug habits. Very poor decisions are being made at our expense.
Surely these petitioners could just open their home for this kind of stuff
No! this is not a solution. Children uses libraries, it’s bad enough they have overtaken any greenspace we have to enjoy! keep away from libraries.
Not a good idea. Too many kids around. No one is equipped to deal with the fallout from overdosing or possible violence. Risk to.publuc health from disposed needles.
Please don’t do this. It’s a terrible idea. Children and elderly people visit the library and shouldn’t be exposed for safety reasons. Who are these 115 signatories and why is this not up for public debate? We are all tax payers and should have a voice in this matter. Maybe resources would be better utilized by providing shelter and treatment rather than enabling addiction.
Hi. The issue is up for debate on Monday.
Anyone can delegate to Council, and then Council can chose to act or simply thank the delegate at the end of the allocated five minutes delegates receive.
I do not think this should be passed there are kids and elderly people who use the library’s daily and we already have enough safe consumption site do we really need another place for drugs to ruin are community
This elderly person won’t set foot in Central Library. Have been assaulted there, have witnessed security guards dealing with overdoses and general freakouts as well as breaking up fights. They also tend to barge into the washrooms doing “sweeps”.
When I need to go to a library I get on a bus to one of the suburban branches.
Do people not realize that OUR children use libraries!?!? This is a ridiculous idea.
I protest allowing safe injection sights in branches of the Hamilton Public Library. Please know as a form HPL and TPL we helped the public do research, attend public programming for children and adults and help the public take out library materials and media. HPL is not a health care centre. Safe injection of drugs is for the addicts who seek nursing care not library materials.
Really
I can’t think of anything more incongruence
This petition will go right in the bin. Too much to unwrap, but it in an incredibly dumb idea.
To put it bluntly. Growing up in hamilton as a kid was great place to be and safe place to be could go anywhere and do anything and as long as you were home be for the street light come on even though we all pushed the boundaries on that one with out having a worry about what was lurking around. Now as an adult with kid’s of my own it now a constant worrying about where we go. Can’t go the park, can’t go on hiking trails. Can’t even walk down the street etc. instead is be come I’ll drive you there and call me when your ready to go home. No you can’t
Go to the park, no we cant go for a hike unless we go to another city or town it’s like opening your front door and walking into a scene from the walking dead sorry for being blunt. It’s disgusting what the city has be come and an embarrassment. It’s to the point where I hate this city and want absolutely nothing to with anymore. So yeah to sum it all up I 100% disagree with make public libraries or near them for safe injection safe. There are place for people to go and learn, research, read and study safely without having to step over or around some strung out infront of a public library
This is actually disgusting. This petition is letting drug addicts take over our public libraries. Places designed for everyone to get information and learn, read those books you can’t afford, do your school work in peace. A place where kids go to do programs such as summer reading and storytime so instead of our youth being glued to the tv they have other forms of fun and safe spots to make friends. Saying yes to this means you are saying yes to 4 year olds watching people shoot up and all your kids coming across more dirty needles. I’ve found needles from the greasiest parts of hamilton all the way into this nicest sections of Stoney Creek. Yes make some sort of safe drug consumption site but put it out of the way so the kids and people do not have to deal with them. Do not taint our libraries!!!!
Insanity,that’s all I got.
Sounds like a great idea that has no chance whatsoever of backfiring tremendously.
Are the petitioners tone deaf? They complain about current sites proximity to schools only to suggest the alternative be libraries??? Literally a service which is applicable to and often catered to youth? This should not be a service that falls within the responsibility or jurisdiction of the library. Give me a break.
Well I’m glad I’m retired from the library I would like to know who the 115 signatures are from! The drug users themselves! Come on give your heads a shake and wake up! You’re encouraging them to take drugs. Setup places for them to stop taking drugs. Hamilton is becoming a drug fest!
Well said. I totally agree. They seem to have more rights than people that don’t take drugs instead of helping the get clean they’re encouraging them to take drugs.
This sounds like a scam to get DoFo to close libraries.
Not a good idea considering children use the library, has to be a better idea than this.
Is this a joke??? So you mean to tell me when I take my toddler to the library we have to share this space with drug addicts? This is absolutely the most rediculous suggestion for a safe space for drug users I’v ever heard. Please stop trying to make this ok.
We prioritize the lowest common denominator over our children, the future of our country. Our libraries should be for public learning, enjoyment, and safe places where our children can learn and grow. Activists doing endlessly more harm than good.
Perhaps police stations would be a more appropriate place to put them. How can ANYONE think libraries are a good spot for drug addicts to congregate? How about out front of City Hall, there is room there.
If I am a visitor to our city & drive down York street to enter the main part of the city I would take a dim view of this city.
Our homeless are camped out in front of the Salvation on the north side & now you want to add an injection site on the south side…I would be reluctant to get out of my car to go to the market or the library!!
I’m absolutely against Libraries as a location for safe injection sites. Many elderly people and families with young children use the libraries consistently. I believe the location of safe injection sites shouldn’t be placed near spaces where the elderly and children are regularly attending.
I do believe safe sites are important but it would be negligent to ignore potential negative impacts by situating sites in in appropriate locations.
Hell no!!! Start a counter petition. Library employees have enough to deal with, as the library is treated like a homeless shelter already. The first floor of Central is almost entirely used by people strung out or sleeping. The library is not a daycare for drug addicts.
Safe injection sites are useful but currently not allowed per the Ontario Govt. Especially not at or near a library if allowed. The Barton St library is full of homeless people, not sharing tables,chairs, reading material, the washrooms or being relatively quiet. They need a better place to go. Why is the City of Hamilton not doing something? And why add more drug addicts to the libraries. Libraries and librarians are not social housing specialists. I would like to know if any of the petition signatories live in the areas and use the libraries they’ve suggested.
There should be no safe consumption sites . Kids should not see anything like that at parks libraries or anywhere..our tax dollars should not support or pay for this.
I 100% agree that the library should not be a safe consumption site, nor is it going to be. That said, when we shut down actual safe consumption sites, as Doug Ford’s government has done, we end up with way more people doing drugs in parks, libraries, and other public spaces, which then become UNsafe consumption sites. Without safe consumption sites, people don’t stop abusing drugs, they just overdose more frequently in public and private places, and are more likely to die instead of having the chance to recover. We need safe consumption sites that are actually designed for that purpose, and we need other social interventions, such as affordable housing, safe places to detox, mental health services, well-funded medical care, and so on. This crisis would never have gotten so bad if we hadn’t defunded so many vital services in our communities over the last few decades. When people don’t have their basic needs met, when they are abandoned by society to live and die on the streets, how can they overcome substance use disorder? Even those who didn’t start out addicted end up so when they are forced to live under such horrible conditions, as the use of drugs is a way to escape their reality.
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