In this week’s committee of the whole meeting, Victoria Councillor Marg Gardiner will once again attempt to have Victoria’s only safe consumption site shut down.
Gardiner brought forth a similar motion with the same goal in July of last year, which ended up failing in a 7-2 vote in November after it was referred to a later date.
The Harbour is Victoria’s only formal safe consumption site (SCS) run by Island Health, and it is located at 941 Pandora Avenue.
The Harbour opened in June 2018 under a federal exemption, allowing for the supervised use of illicit substances. This exemption is currently set to expire in June 2027.
The SCS provides supervised injection, inhalation, oral and nasal drug use so people can be safely monitored and treated immediately if they overdose.
Additionally, the site provides harm reduction supplies, harm reduction education and referrals to health services, addictions services as well as other social supports.
Substances can be tested onsite to detect contaminants such as fentanyl, and a mental health clinician is onsite during operating hours to aid those in need.
Gardiner wrote in her motion that The Harbour has “become a magnet for those addicted to drugs and for drug dealers who prey on the weak and ill among those encamped in our city.”
She also stated that Victoria’s safety, the health and well-being of residents and the viability of downtown businesses should be the priorities of this council, inferring that The Harbour’s operation puts those principles at risk.
Though this matter won’t be discussed by Victoria’s city council until Thursday, July 2nd, another councillor has turned to social media asking residents to voice their support for The Harbour’s continued operation.
“We have one supervised consumption site (The Harbour), and Councnillor [sic] Marg Gardiner is trying to close it down this week,” wrote Councillor Matt Dell.
“Harm reduction sites are proven to save lives, reduce overdoses, and help get people into detox, stabilization and rehab. They reduce the spread of infectious diseases, such as HIV.”
Dell added that there are many stories of success coming out of The Harbour and that Victoria’s police chiefs have clearly stated that safe-consumption sites and harm reduction are part of the solution.
He is calling on residents to email city council to express “opposition to this uninformed and cruel motion.”
On Monday, June 29th, coinciding with Gardiner’s push to shut down The Harbour, Island Health announced a drug poisoning/overdose advisory for the Greater Victoria region.
This advisory urges those who use substances to seek out an SCS so they can be monitored and kept safe from death.
PLEASE SHARE: A Drug Poisoning Overdose Advisory has been issued for #Victoria
Find information on supervised consumption sites, drug-checking services & more: https://t.co/yU4NJa3Aql pic.twitter.com/MnDzgpFlEL— Island Health (@VanIslandHealth) June 29, 2026
Earlier this month, The BC Coroners Service (BCCS) reported another 119 lives lost due to toxic drug use throughout the province in April.
Twenty-five of those 119 died on Vancouver Island and nine deaths were attributed to the Greater Victoria area.
This brings the total number of deaths since the public health crisis was declared in April 2016 up to 18,408.
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