Timmins council debates merits, impact of safe consumption site in the city
Timmins’ temporary safe consumption site is set to close at the end of the month and this week, city council debated its importance in tackling the city’s addiction issues.
Some councillors suggested there has been more social disorder with Safe Health Site Timmins around, while others say it’s a critical tool to save lives.
One city councillor moved to revoke the city’s support for making the site permanent.
“We really didn’t understand how much of an effect it would have,” said Coun. Bill Gvozdanovic.
Gvozdanovic said issues like public intoxication and violence worsened with the opening of the site.
But that’s a minority opinion, as others highlighted that it’s saving lives and improving the city.
“All the things that this place has done for the better, it’s going to undo and they’re going to go back downtown,” said Coun. Cory Robin
“This is fact,” added Coun. Andrew Marks.
Timmins’ temporary safe consumption site is set to close at the end of the month and this week, city council debated its importance in tackling the city’s addiction issues. (File)
“I don’t like living in a community that requires one, but I do.”
Mayor Michelle Boileau said she was concerned about the impact of closing the site.
“Without knowing what door they’ll be able to go through, I’m concerned about what their well-being and what the fate of our residents will be,” Boileau said.
First funded by the city, now the local hospital, the site is awaiting a provincial review of safe consumption sites, putting the fate of these facilities in limbo.
The Timmins and District Hospital is also applying for provincial funding to develop an all-in-one complex for mental health and addiction services.
One councillor said that would be the perfect location for a permanent safe consumption site.
Provincial responsibility
“This belongs at a full-service treatment facility, where the person who comes in and accesses the service, and gets a potential referral, just needs to walk down the hall,” said Coun. Steve Black.
Some councillors said the province has a duty to fund safe consumption sites and efforts to deal with the resulting social disorder from their clients.
“This shouldn’t be in my lap,” Marks said.
“I shouldn’t have to deal with this.”
“The provincial government and federal government are failing this issue,” Black said.
This as the city aims to improve safety through its security and outreach projects.
“It’ll be interesting, once we’ve seen a full cycle through the year, to determine whether there has been an impact,” Boileau said.
Black said the future of the city depends on getting this right.
“This is the No. 1 issue we face as a community,” he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW Is there a cost to convenience? Canada approves new cancer immunotherapy treatment
A new cancer treatment recently approved in Canada promises to cut treatment time down to just minutes, but experts have differing opinions on whether it's what's best for patients.
King Charles III returns to public duties with a trip to a cancer charity
King Charles III will return to public duties on Tuesday when he visits a cancer treatment charity, beginning his carefully managed comeback after the monarch’s own cancer diagnosis sidelined him for three months.
Canada's new dental program offering hope of free care to millions but many dentists aren't signed up
A new Canadian dental care program is offering the hope of free care to millions, but while 1.7 million people have signed up for the plan, only about 5,000 dentists have done the same.
NDP says Ottawa's new grocery task force isn't living up to government promises
The federal government says the task force it created to monitor and investigate grocery retailers' practices has not conducted any probes and doesn't have a mandate to take enforcement action.
Archeologists search for remnants of Halifax's 250-year-old wall that surrounded the city
Archeologist Jonathan Fowler is using ground-penetrating radar to search for historic evidence of the massive wall that surrounded Halifax more than 250 years ago.
Air Canada walks back new seat selection policy change after backlash
Air Canada has paused a new seat selection fee for travellers booked on the lowest fares just days after implementing it.
Province boots mayor and council in small northern Ont. town out of office
An ongoing municipal strike, court battles and revolt by half of council has prompted the province to oust the mayor and council in Black River-Matheson.
Winner of US$1.3 billion Powerball jackpot is an immigrant from Laos who has cancer
One of the winners of a historic US$1.3 billion Powerball jackpot last month is an immigrant from Laos who has had cancer for eight years and had his latest chemotherapy treatment last week.
Anne Hathaway reveals she's now five years sober
Anne Hathaway first shared she lost interest in drinking after a bad hangover in 2018. She’s now five years sober.