“Dead against” supervised injection sites, says Ontario PC leader Doug Ford

"I don't believe in safe-injection areas, as I call them. I believe in supporting people, getting them help," Ford said in Sarnia, Ontario.

"I ask anyone out there, if your son, daughter or loved one ever had an addiction, would you want them to go in a little area and do more drugs? I'm dead against that."

Ford reportedly said that opioid crisis costs more than $1,000 a day for someone to go to rehab, and added he would provide help to people who were struggling with addiction. He also added that if he became premier in June, he will do everything in his power to eradicate the ongoing opioid crisis.

When pressed for details, his campaign members said Ford would release his plan to address mental health and the opioid crisis in the coming weeks.

The governing Liberals had reportedly promised to add 30,000 new long-term care beds in the next decade to which New Democrats had said they would create 40,000 in that time.

Liberal campaign co-chair Deb Matthews said that Ford needed to explain his plans to pay for the new beds considering his earlier pledge to reduce government spending.  

Ontario health minister Helena Jaczek, meanwhile, said Ford's comments on safe injection sites not only put people's lives at risk but also perpetuate the stigma around mental health and addiction.

NDP leader Andrea Horwath also said Ford’s stance would “drag Ontario backwards and deny people the care they need”.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)