New motion calls on regional council to help save Kitchener consumption site

The doors might be closed but the fight to save the region’s only consumption and treatment services site (CTS) continues.

Late last month, the Ontario Superior Court issued and injunction, allowing the sites identified by the province as being in violation of the Community Care and Recovery Act, to remain open past the March 30, deadline. It was to allow charter challenges to the act to work through the courts.

However, the province ended funding on March 30, in defiance of the injunction.

The Waterloo Region Drug Action Team (WR DAT) has been leading the fight to bring back the CTS site on Duke street in Kitchener. It has penned letters to local and provincial representatives, asking for help.

Michael Parkinson, drug strategy expert, volunteer, WR DAT, told 570 NewsRadio it has a pair of specific requests of Regional Council’s community health and services committee, that have been included in a motion.

“Councilor Pam Wolf is introducing a motion that would do two things if it’s approved by the community and health services committee,” said Parkinson. “The first is to request the province of Ontario step-up and provide the support during the period of the injunction to keep the consumption and treatment service alive here in Kitchener. The second request is for permission from the province of Ontario for the municipality to support the consumption and treatment service.”

The Community Care and Recovery Act prohibits municipalities from supporting CTS unless given express permission. Parkinson said he doesn’t get the province’s hard line stance.

“Nobody understands why the province is so hellbent on reducing the safety for both individuals and communities in the midst of a raging public health emergency that takes the life of a someone across the province every two and half hours and across Waterloo Region every two and half days.”

Parkinson says the response to the letters has been positive so far, except for one group that has remained noticeably silent.

“It’s important to remember that the letters WR DAT sent also went to all area MPP’s. It was urgent. And, we haven’t heard from the Progressive Conservative members in Kitchener and Cambridge. That’s distressing. And, on the ground here, we know people are going to die.”

The community health and services committee is meeting on April 8.