WECHU 'encouraged' by wave of developments over SafePoint consumption and treatment site
After days of controversy over the location of the SafePoint consumption and treatment site in Windsor, a compromise was reached at the 11th hour before debate even took place Monday night.
Councillors Fabio Costante and Renaldo Agostino hashed out a deal to allow the supervised consumption site to open on Wyandotte Street, but also giving the downtown councillor the green light to search for a new site, pending approval from the health board.
“What's in our control is endorsing a site,” said Coun. Costante, who also serves as the chair of the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) board of directors. “And so if we can mitigate against any delay, then that is a win for the community.”
Councillors hashed out the deal over the weekend to dismiss Agostino’s attempt to yank council’s support for the 101 Wyandotte St. E. location.
Instead, the location will be temporary and the downtown rep will seek to strike a site selection committee to choose a new location.
“It doesn't damage anything and more importantly, what it doesn't do is it's not going to cost any single person their lives,” said Agostino after Monday’s council meeting.
The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit board now needs to meet to define and decide upon a new motion for council to consider in two weeks.
“We are encouraged by the decision of Councilor Agostino to reconsider last night’s motion, which ensures that renovations and our applications can move forward without delay,” reads a statement issued Tuesday by WECHU. “The details of the compromise referenced at the meeting will be brought forward to the Board of Health for decision in the coming week. We continue in our commitment to working with our community and elected officials on a transparent and evidence-informed process related to the location of this life-saving service.”
The last minute change of plans now begs the question: if a new location is to be chosen, where should SafePoint go?
Looking at other cities, Hamilton’s consumption site is a block from city hall.
London is currently served by a mobile unit and this summer one will open up about 300 metres from a high school in the city’s downtown.
A CTS site in Kitchener sits squarely in the downtown core, right across the street from city hall and a church.
It’s not just about concerns from nearby businesses and residents that has Agostino pushing for a new location, but also the impact on potential clients. He said a recent conversation with an old friend — who’s now a drug user — opened his eyes to the aspect of respecting human dignity and stigma experienced by people accessing these services.
“’Do you think when there's a Tigers game, and the cars are lined up along Main Street. Do you think I'm gonna walk in there?’” His friend told him. “’Do you think I'm gonna walk here so everybody that knows me or used to know me is going to see me walking in to CTS site? I'm not going to do that.’”
Bill Marra, the president and CEO of Hotel Dieu Grace HealthCare said this harm reduction strategy is but one prong of a greater plan for tackling the opioid and drug crisis in the community, which also includes prevention, treatment and enforcement.
“This is not for everyone. It's not going to solve everything, but it's certainly going to go a long way in providing another option,” Marra said.
He points to roughly 40 other CTS sites operating across Canada at this very moment, arguing they have been very successful in preventing overdoses and death. He also notes that myths around reduced property values and an uptick in crime around these centres has been proven false.
The discussion around location is missing the point — it’s really about opening up the service without further delay.
“There are lives that are at stake and that's not sensationalizing it or overdramatizing,” Marra said. “We know for a fact people are dying. This will reduce fatal and non-fatal overdoses for sure.”
Agostino will press forward with a new motion in two weeks and wants to lead up the search for a new location that works for everyone.
“The best for the people that need those services, the best for the people that live in the neighborhood, the best for the businesses that operate there,” he said. “I want to do better.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.