Sault group pushing to bring safe consumption site to the city
Despite receiving a trespassing notice, the founder of Safe Space, a mobile harm reduction site in the Sault, isn't giving up her goal of helping the community.
Merissa Dinner and her group were served the trespass notice from Sault police, on behalf of the city, for operating an injection tent on city property.
However, Dinner refutes that any injections were taking place in her tent and said she's just focused on reducing the harm done to drug users.
"We are particularly careful to make sure there is no injection on site," Dinner said. "But with this notice now, there was a lady who had taken one of our benches and moved it over to a table and she was injecting and injecting other people at the table and I can't stop that."
Dinner said she was given permission to operate her Safe Space tent on the private property of a nearby building in Jamestown.
However, the city said that wasn't the case.
"Once it was established by police that she had in fact set up on city property after this conversation, the notice of trespass was issued," reads a statement from the City of Sault Ste. Marie.
Dinner said while she doesn't currently allow injections, she is looking to create a safe consumption site in the Sault.
She said she's applied for a permanent exemption from Health Canada to set up a safe consumption site and is currently in the process of consultations.
"We've reached out to the city about the old Studio 10 location," Dinner said. "We've reached out to the citizens that live next to it and we're hoping that would be a place that the community decides is appropriate."
Dinner said she's hoping to hear back from Health Canada about her application by the end of the month.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.