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Safe injection sites spark spirited debate

Apr 24, 2017 | 9:50 PM

Safe injection sites in Prince Albert continue to be a hot topic at city hall.

A motion by Ward 3 Coun. Evert Botha on Monday asked the city to forward correspondence to the ministries of justice, health and social services in order to highlight the need for a more integrated approach to harm reduction.

This request also asked the ministries to look at a possible safe injection site or new treatment facility for the city. Any facilities built would require senior levels of government funding.

Botha, who originally opposed the idea, said the issue has become more important to him over time as he has learned more about it.

“There’s so much more to this than supervised injection sites,” he told council. “When we mention injection sites, it stirs a lot of emotions. A lot of it stems from ignorance and a lack of compassion and dare I say, a lack of empathy.”

He said the city has to admit there’s a crisis and if they continue on this path, it will become a catastrophe.

After a lengthy and spirited debate, council passed the motion 5-4.

Councillors Dennis Ogrodnick, Ted Zurakowski, Don Cody and Mayor Greg Dionne all voted against the motion. The big sticking point for some was the inclusion of the safe injection site, not the goal of improving harm reduction.

Dionne informed council he spoke with a ministry of health official who told him there’s no discussions or plans to move ahead with safe injection sites. He argued these sites won’t reduce the number of needs on the streets.

Treatment centres, not injection sites, are needed to help people, he said.

“My younger brother is alive today because we picked him up and took him to a clinic in Edmonton not a safe injection site,” he said. “He thanked us for taking him to the clinic because that’s what saved him.”

Dionne said the city should be advocating for a treatment centre first before even considering a safe injection site.

He mentioned he wasn’t worried about the motion going forward since the province is under too much financial restraint to add any more programs.

Ward 7 Coun. Dennis Nowoselsky, who has 30 years of experience in drug treatment and education, said all avenues need to be available when dealing with this issue.

“This is at least starting on the right track,” he said. “Lots of times senior levels of government need the push. I hear Mayor Dionne’s comments about them having a lot on their plates but you got to start somewhere to get their attention.”

 

Jeff.labine@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @labinereporter