I was not surprised to see the recent media comments by some individuals in our health community on an effort to establish a supervised drug injection site in Ottawa. It has been an ongoing discussion in various health circles for a long time.
I share the passion for helping people who are battling addictions. The members of the Ottawa Police Service see the terrible impact of illegal drugs every day and we have been working with our partners to advocate for more treatment space.
Earlier this year, the Federal government outlined a process for the approval of supervised injection sites. Among the steps in the process is an assessment by a number of stakeholders on how a supervised injection site would affect the community in which they are located.
This development is important because it recognizes that while the efficacy of an injection site may be a medical discussion, there are far more issues and considerations.
If a proposal for a site comes forward, my concern, as Chief of Police, would be the associated community safety and security issues. Those crime and disorder issues can’t be established or addressed until a detailed plan is presented. So far, all we have heard is generalities.
There are multiple questions about a supervised injection site that need answering – its location, the number of clients, operational hours, proximity to neighbourhoods and schools, just to name a few.
The proponents of a supervised injection site have done a lot of talking but their commentary has lacked the vital details that I know members of our community would want to hear. The proponents argue the benefits such a site has had in Vancouver but the case has not been made that Ottawa, our community, needs one.
I have also not seen any meaningful consultation with the people who would be affected by the location of a site — its neighbours, the businesses and community associations surrounding it. Our service has heard from many people who are against the imposition of a supervised injection site in their neighbourhood. These people matter and must be part of the discussion.
Too many questions remain and, in the absence of a detailed plan and meaningful consultation with the people affected, I can only be opposed to the establishment of a site.
I hope the proponents take the time to gather their details and talk to the entire community they would affect.
In the meantime, we at the Ottawa Police will continue to work in the community with our partners like Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services, Maison Fraternité and the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre on assisting people with addictions with limited funds available for counseling and treatment.
This comment was originally published in Ottawa Citizen at http://tinyurl.com/nhxtact