Pubdate: Wed, 20 Nov 2002 Source: Oshawa This Week (CN ON) Copyright: 2002 Oshawa This Week Contact: http://www.durhamregion.com/dr/community/oshawa/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1767 Author: Martin Derbyshire METHADONE DISCUSSIONS EXTENDED BY CITY Councillor Wants Clinic To Move To Different Location OSHAWA - A study commissioned by the City to review methadone clinics and whether they are appropriate downtown will broaden its scope by including a look at more clinics and a public meeting where all Oshawa residents can have their say. Originally expected to be complete by Nov. 30, consultant Scott Burns addressed council Tuesday asking for an extension, a change to the number of clinics the study would be reviewing, and up to an additional $10,000 to be added to the study's $50,000 price tag. He received approval from council on all three requests and will now have until the end of February to complete his study. The study stems from the City's interim control bylaw blocking the move of King Street's First Step Medical Clinic, which provides methadone maintenance therapy to local addicts, to a downtown location on Simcoe Street just north of Athol Street. The bylaw was struck down by the Ontario Municipal Board this summer, but that decision is being appealed by the City. Five clinics (Kingston, Kitchener, Barrie, Richmond Hill and Lindsay) were to be compared to the Oshawa situation. However, since consultants discovered three out of the five are run by the same management group they have asked to include clinics in Orillia and two others run by First Step in Scarborough and Hamilton, brought to their attention by a story in 'Oshawa This Week.' "These visits can be extremely informative," said Mr. Burns. Although not supported by the remainder of council, Councillor Louise Parkes argued Hamilton's size and population are not comparable to Oshawa's and asked that it not be a part of the study. She also suggested a Brampton clinic be included because of its similarity to the Oshawa situation. Mr. Burns requested the time-extension since he will not be able to meet with the Downtown Board of Management and other downtown residents and stakeholders until a meeting slated for Dec. 3. He asked for an extension until the end of the year, but Councillor Mike Nicholson called for a meeting with residents outside the downtown core and suggested even more time be granted to hold that forum. "I think there are a lot of people outside the downtown who would like the opportunity to be a part of a public meeting that any citizen of Oshawa can attend," he said. "There's a lot of people with something to say on this." - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens