Photo: Colton Mckee

By Jessie Weisner (CHAT News Today)

Supervised Consumption Sites

Residents, business owners voice concerns at Medicine Hat scs town hall

Sep 4, 2019 | 8:17 AM

More than 200 people gathered Tuesday evening to discuss Medicine Hat’s proposed supervised consumption site, which has had its funding frozen since the United Conservative Party was elected.

Emotions were high at the HomeStay Inn and Suites during the public engagement session on the site planned to be located at 502 South Railway Street SE.

Many residents, business owners and stakeholders chose to speak to the eight member Supervised Consumption Review Committee, voicing their opinion for a maximum of three minutes.

Roughly the same amount of people spoke in support of the site as against it, but specific topics that dominated conversation were the sites location, a potential increase in crime, and supporting additional addiction services.

“I think it was a really balanced conversation,” says Leslie Hill, executive director of HIV Community Link. “I was pleased with how it went tonight and I do hope that people continue to have really respectful dialogue because its a really important issue.”

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Brooks-Medicine Hat MLA Michaela Glasgo, in addition to Glen Motz, MP of Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner, voiced concern about the location and its proximity to homes and businesses.

Something many area residents agreed with.

“I am very concerned about, especially with my youngest, who’s got to walk four blocks in the morning by himself to school, and then at 3:30, walk back home,” says Connie Chapman, an area resident. “When I bought my house I would allow my kids to walk down to dairy queen, or walk down to Tim Hortons, or walk down to the dollar store, now they are not allowed to walk down there at all.”

The panel consisting of police officers, doctors, academics and a woman who lost her son to a fentanyl over-dose, has a goal of evaluating the potential social and economic impacts of the site.

One business owner who used to operate next to a needle distribution facility spoke about his negative experience.

“We had nothing but trouble with drug users, pushers, dealers, accumulating on the front street,” says Dave Marsh, owner of Associates Chiropractic Clinic. “One particular time a dealer got a little rough, my wife threatened to phone the police and he took off right away but the next day we find a two and a half pound sledgehammer on the back step.”

However, despite vehement opposition from some businesses close to the proposed site, the operator of The Post Thrift Store says they’re in full support. The store is located just across the street from 502 South Railway Street SE.

“Canadian Mental Health and The Post, were in support of it being right across the street from us,” says Corie Fischer, executive director of Canadian Mental Health Association Alberta Southeast Region, which operates The Post.

“Were already seeing the use, were seeing the dealing, were seeing the vandalism, were seeing the loitering, passing out in the vestibules in the businesses, using the bathrooms to shoot up. Lets give them a safe, supervised place they can be using with the wraparound services.”

Supporting additional addiction services in the community was a large topic. Some suggested putting funding towards detox and rehab centres.

“You guys have millions of dollars, are you going to spend it on picking up needles, or are you going to spend it on something that actually matters,” said one resident.

“Our supervised consumption services isn’t effective without good detox, without good treatment services, without good enforcement services, there was a lot of conversation here about youth services and how we prevent people from needing those services,” says Hill. “All of those pieces are essential parts to the conversation.”

The panel did not discuss harm reduction, following Jason Luan, associate minister of mental health and addictions, saying there was already enough information to support the merits of the sites.

However, that didn’t prevent the topic coming up many times. Local advocates cited a recent report saying the sites have saved more than 4300 lives since November 2017.

A fact based approach one local doctor took when discussing needle debris with the panel.

“So I think everyone has a right to be here and talk, everyone should have their voice heard but I do believe there is a place for science, for evidence, and for that academic understanding,” says Dr. Lena Derie-Gillespie, family physician and area resident.

Overall, Rod Knecht, chair of the panel, said the meeting went smoothly, and he hopes the next eight meetings over the course of the month will be as productive.

“This our first stop in our tour of Alberta so to speak and I believe we’ve gotten some real valuable information out of the session here,” says Knecht. “The rainbow of questions and the rainbow of views, and the selection of questions that people have brought forward for the community as well has been great.”

Once the panel completes their meetings, they will compile a report to present to the provincial government. The province will then make a decision on how to approach funding for the sites.

The next meeting is scheduled for Lethbridge on Wednesday, September 4 from 5 to 9 p.m.