Cambridge council passes motion to consider a CTS site within the city

On Wednesday, November 18, Cambridge City Council held a meeting. It lasted all day, and even went through the night, as several topics were on the meeting's agenda, including Consumption and Treatment Services (CTS) sites . 

Before the vote, a consumption and treatment planning study was conducted and examined six options for CTS sites in Cambridge. 

Out of the six, option five saw the most support from both council and the dozens of delegations who spoke at the Wednesday meeting. 

Option five would allow the city to consider a CTS site permit anywhere in Cambridge for public use, while recognizing council has an opportunity to withhold or refuse support for an application for the Ontario program, if the province does not support the site. 

“If we choose any other option other than option five, it's quite likely it would get applied by some group and go to LPAT (Local Planning Appeal Tribunal) and they would make the final decision, and it would be out of our hands, so the only real way we have control of this situation and determine whether we want a site or not, and its location is if we vote for option five,” said Ward 6 Councillor, Shannon Adshade.

Jessica Whitehead, Manager of Addiction Services at House of Friendship, was one of the delegations who spoke at the meeting and supported option five. 

“As council decides about a suitable CTS location I strongly recommend that this approach also be taken and that option five a CTS site anywhere for public use be selected to make sure that this site is as accessible as possible for those within the community.”

Recently elected Ward 7 Councillor Scott Hamilton also showed his support for option five, and during the October byelection while he was campaigning, he heard both support and opposition for a CTS site. 

“I think what Cambridge wants to see on whatever side someone takes is that there's movement, and that something is happening, and that we as council work together in a concerted way to establish control over a situation that may have been volatile in the past, but in the future going forth can be fairly smooth and harmonious if we established that shared dialogue together.”

Cambridge City Council did vote in favour of option five, however, it was not unanimous as Councillors Jan Liggett and Nicholas Ermeta were opposed.