Quebec’s Bill 103 would ban drug consumption sites near schools, pushing two Montreal sites to relocate amid rising public safety concerns.
Quebec Proposes Bill to Restrict Drug Sites Near Schools
In a move stirring debate across the province, the Quebec government has introduced a bill that would prohibit supervised drug consumption sites from operating within 150 metres of schools or daycare centers.
Bill 103, presented by Social Services Minister Lionel Carmant, aims to balance public safety with health services — but it’s already drawing both support and criticism.
Two Montreal Drug Sites Face Relocation
If passed, Bill 103 would require two existing sites — including the Maison Benoît-Labre in Montreal’s Sud-Ouest borough — to relocate. The Maison, which also serves as a homeless shelter, sits less than 100 metres from an elementary school and daycare, a location that has raised alarm among parents and neighbors.Police data shows a spike in crime around the site since its opening, adding fuel to the controversy.
Tougher Rules on Cleanliness and Safety
Beyond the distance rule, the bill would give the Health Ministry new powers to impose conditions on these sites around cleanliness and public order. Failure to meet those standards could result in their authorization being revoked.
Carmant stressed: “The spirit behind this bill is that people don’t consume and sell drugs outside the site. That’s the problem I hear about when I visit these centres.”
A Four-Year Countdown to Compliance
The legislation outlines a four-year grace period before sites like Maison Benoît-Labre and BRAS in the Outaouais region lose authorization if they fail to relocate.
Currently, Quebec has 14 supervised consumption sites — and Carmant acknowledges that more may be needed as the province confronts a toxic drug crisis that claimed 645 lives in 2024.
Experts Voice Concern: Will the Bill Solve the Problem?
While some residents and politicians welcome the new restrictions, experts like Michael MacKenzie, professor of social work at McGill University and a nearby resident, are skeptical.
MacKenzie argues the problems in the area are less about the safe consumption services and more about day services and loitering near the centre.
“I’m not seeing anything in this bill where the minister is using his authority to hold organizations accountable for their broader community impact,” he said.
A Nationwide Debate on Drug Policy
Quebec’s move comes as political leaders across Canada, including federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, call for tougher action on supervised drug sites, describing them as a risk to public safety.
The challenge for Quebec — and for Canada as a whole — will be finding a balance between harm reduction, community safety, and public trust in the face of a deepening drug crisis.
