By Tyler Marr

City moves toward zoning out methadone clinics from residential areas

Aug 28, 2018 | 12:00 PM

Though widely supportive of the program, Prince Albert lawmakers have ushered forward legislation that could see methadone clinics restricted from operating in residential areas.

The move stems from an Oct. 17, 2017, decision, where debate around a proposed podiatry clinic on Sherman Dr. struck a cord with a handful of councillors. Some worried approving a development permit for a medical clinic, which carries a broad definition, could eventually see the property change hands and turn into a methadone clinic without first running by council. City staff, at the time, said the term ‘medical clinic’ is all-encompassing, and so long as the future development fell within the definition — and methadone clinics do — it would not come back to council for approval.

Based on that information, lawmakers asked city planners to create special land use rules for methadone dispensaries. The new zoning laws will bar methadone clinics from neighbourhood commercial zones, which include areas like strip malls deep in residential areas, such as those by Tiggerz convenience store in the East Flat.

A report to slide these amendments into a new soon-to-come zoning bylaw was presented at city council’s executive committee Monday afternoon. 

“There are some common fears … across the country of what introducing a methadone clinic will introduce into a neighbourhood,” Planning and Development Director Craig Guidinger told council. “Perhaps these fears aren’t based on actual statistics, but the fear is real and therefore it should be reviewed.”

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There are currently six methadone dispensaries in Prince Albert, none of which will be impacted by the change.

Ward 3 Coun. Evert Botha worried the new rules could start the city down a slippery slope and maintained the program “does good to help decrease … dependencies on opioids.”

“This is part of treatment and harm reduction,” he said, noting methadone is often a cocktail type drink or tablet users can take at home. “It is not injected with needles.”

Worried legal challenges could pop up from restricting access to a medication based on a diagnosable condition, Ward 2 Coun. Terra Lennox-Zepp sought to first run the amendments by legal counsel.

“We wouldn’t say that people who need insulin for their diabetes can only get it at certain locations in the city because of people that show up with them,” she said, going on to criticize the rules for not being backed up with evidence or hard facts.

“It simply is appeasing unfounded fears,” she said. “I think the argument there is increased crime is unfounded and there is often an increase because people are pushed out of certain areas.”

However, there was little support around the table for getting the acting city solicitor involved. 

Ward 8 Coun. Ted Zurakowski said he is worried this would simply delay the law, cost unnecessary funds, and said the city was operating well within its rights.

“We need to be supportive of the program but supportive of the residents as well,” he said. 

Though a self-proclaimed supporter of the methadone program, Edwards backed the zoning amendments and did not believe it would restrict access.

“Prince Albert is a very small city,” he said. “It is not the same as diabetes….[The clinics] are attracting criminals. My biggest reason [to support the amendments] is that the residents are concerned.”

The proposed zoning bylaw amendments passed five to three, with Lennox-Zepp, Botha, and Ward 1 Coun. Charlene Miller opposed.

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr