NEWS – June 6, 2023

TORONTO – Anthony Furey announced Tuesday that as mayor of Toronto he would halt the plans to bring a modular housing unit for troubled homeless persons to the front lawn of the Willowdale Manor Seniors Complex at 175 Cummer Avenue.

“This is an incredibly inappropriate place to put a homeless facility that will also be used as a drug injection site,” Furey said. “This green space is enjoyed by hundreds of seniors. This is where they walk, gather and do tai chi in the warm months.”

Seniors and their advocates have in recent months spoken out about their concerns for the facility, but the City has so far been unwilling to budge.

“The City is trying to ram this down the throats of vulnerable seniors but as Mayor I’m going to stand up for them,” Furey said. “It’s shocking that the City wants to include what they call ‘harm reduction’ facilities on site. This means drug dealers will flock to this seniors centre. It can’t be allowed to proceed.”

Furey will instead work with the City to investigate options for housing unit locations that don’t create law and order problems for communities. He will also make sure housing facilities don’t include drug injection sites.

“The City has been quietly working behind the scenes to place drug injection services in facilities throughout Scarborough, North York and Etobicoke,” Furey explained. “This is truly shocking and I’m going to turn it around. It’s time to bring back common sense.”

Anthony Furey’s first campaign promise in April was to halt plans for new injection sites and instead replace them with treatment centres.

MEDIA CONTACT

Mike Bendixen | Senior Media Advisor
The Anthony Furey for Mayor Campaign
Telephone: 416-951-6397
media@furey.ca