“We have over a dozen people a month dying in Vancouver this year [in 2016] of overdose deaths.”—Gregor Robertson, mayor

Progress report
In the city’s Downtown Eastside, Insite, North America’s first supervised injection site, has been operating since 2003. Vancouver Coastal Health has also applied to operate two new sites, a response to the growing opioid crisis in the city.

Toronto: The big city

“There’s no magic bullet to stop fatal overdoses. Treatment, prevention, harm reduction, and enforcement are all part of the solution. but supervised injection works.”—Joe Cressy, city councillor

Progress report
The province has agreed to back and fund three safe injection sites in the city, though they will take several months to open.

Winnipeg: In the middle

“What I have heard is the need for greater [long-term] treatment facilities to help our citizens who are affected by addictions, that is the number one focus for the families I’ve met with.”—Brian Bowman, mayor

Progress report
Bowman says safe injection sites are not on the city’s agenda. But 46 percent of Winnipeggers are in favour of the sites, according to a Postmedia poll.

Calgary: Out west

“We have to have a very serious conversation on what works and doesn’t work…. there’s no more time for buck-passing.”—Naheed Nenshi, mayor

Progress report
Both the mayor and police chief roger cha n support safe injection sites as part of a wider drug strategy. meanwhile, Calgarians are split on the issue, according to a Postmedia survey, with 41 percent opposed to the sites.