Last Thursday, Premier Wab Kinew told the media his promise to open a safe consumption site was going to be fulfilled next month. But based on the comments given at a panel discussion on May 12th, it’s apparent the police chief and SCS “medical facility” operators at 366 Henry aren’t prepared.
In Episode 22, listeners will hear what top cop Gene Bowers and Monica Cyr of the Aboriginal Health and Wellness Centre said- and can decide if it stands up to scrutiny.
Part 1- With the announcement an SCS is going to open before July 1st, it’s important for the community to hear what was recently said by the officials responsible to mitigate safety concerns. You will first hear police chief Bowers make introductory remarks.
12.12 – Bowers is asked by panel moderator Derek Finkle of the National Post about how the WPS will deal with drug dealers near the site, referencing a now-shuttered Toronto site where a mother was murdered by a drug dealer. Police there were pressured by the “harm reduction” lobby to ease up on arresting dealers.
20.05– Marty assesses the comments of Bowers and his assurance “we act” and that people’s concerns are heard – yet, there’s stilll no policing plan the North Logan neighbourhood can evaluate.
Our question: What is the plan to deal with addicts showing up early or lingering outside of business hours?
We recap examples where there was no action for residents and business owners in Point Douglas, the East Exchange, and Mynarski who’ve been confronted with crime and disorder.
30.18 Part 2- A question was posed by Finkle for the CEO of Aborginal Health and Wellness Centre, Monica Cyr.
He cited the TOSCA study which demonstrated that addicts would not travel more than a few blocks after buying drugs to go to a “safe site” to get high. How can AHWC tell the community that drug dealers will be prevented from descending on the neighbourhood?
Cyr spoke of “security” being contracted that has no authority to enforce laws, and of “eyes and ears” among harm reduction allies, but didn’t mention that many of them are anti-policing and lobby for drug decriminalization.
Marty raises those and a few other points about the slack AHWC approach to what safety means for businesses and families, and Cyr’s reliance on a ‘peer group’ of other drug addicts to liaise with her target clientele.
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