By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Rezoning for supervised consumption moves one step forward

Oct 15, 2018 | 11:59 PM

Red Deer is one step closer to seeing permanent supervised consumption services open at a newly proposed location in the city’s Railyards district.

It was revealed last week that service provider Turning Point wishes to not only run SCS in a currently vacant building in that area, but they also hope to relocate their entire operation.

On Monday, city council unanimously approved first reading of a rezoning needed to make that all happen, setting up a public hearing on Nov. 13.

“I want to say that what I’m hearing tonight is hope, hope for the addicted person, hope for the service agency that’s doing its best under very harrowing circumstances to stem this beast,” said Councillor Ken Johnston.

He and several others spoke of the importance of not only the harm reduction pillar of The City’s Drug and Safety Strategy, but also prevention, treatment and community safety.

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“The reality is that the statistics are telling us the tragedy is getting worse and the province isn’t responding anytime soon with the treatment services we have cried for for so many years,” Johnston added. “Now is the time for us to be able to squarely address harm reduction.”

Fellow councillor Lawrence Lee stated, “The status quo is not working. It’s not acceptable and there has to be a change in the way The City responds.”

Meanwhile, Dianne Wyntjes called out ‘NIMBYism (the concept of not wanting something in one’s backyard), as well as comments from people on Facebook which say society should let those addicted to drugs just die. Tanya Handley said she believed it was important that this go to public hearing despite the fact she has concerns about the greater impact SCS may have on the surrounding area.

One person fairly satisfied with what she heard was Stacey Carmichael, Turning Point’s executive director.

“This gives us an opportunity to have more conversations with the community and prepare a presentation for council to consider before second and third readings,” Carmichael said.

When asked if anything she heard was concerning, she said that there wasn’t anything in particular.

“It’s all similar messages to what we’ve heard in the past. I appreciate that we do have a four-pillar approach and Turning Point is in the harm reduction realm, so we’re quite happy moving forward in that area. Not to dismiss the need for additional services, but it is noteworthy that we have some very good treatment options in our community. We don’t want people to think there isn’t movement in that area, because there absolutely is.”

Alberta Health Services Chief Zone Officer for Central Zone Kerry Bales also provided brief remarks on council’s actions Monday night, stating, “SCS is about reducing harm and overdose death and offering additional services as well as referrals to opioid-dependency treatment. AHS is encouraged by this first step in approving SCS and saving lives while providing options when clients are ready for change.”

Ahead of the public hearing, The City will hold one-one-one conversations with land and business owners within 100 metres of the site at 5233 54 Avenue. Letters will be sent to all others within the Railyards area.