Pubdate: Sat, 14 Jan 2017
Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON)
Copyright: 2017 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.ottawacitizen.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326
Author: Jon Willing
Page: A4

CHIEF WANTS MORE SECURITY AT INJECTION SITE

Bordeleau believes centre will be 'congregating area for drug
users'

The Ottawa Police Service isn't convinced there would be enough
security at a proposed supervised injection site in Sandy Hill.

In a letter sent this week to the Sandy Hill Community Health Centre,
Chief Charles Bordeleau says the police force assessed the
organization's security plans for an injection site and determined
they are "inadequate."

"We do note the presence of a 'greeter' in the proposal but we do not
believe that this position will provide the level of security required
to deal with issues both inside and outside the facility," Bordeleau
writes. "We would ask you to look at this portion of the proposal and
develop more robust mitigation strategies."

Bordeleau goes on to write, "if stronger mitigation plans are not put
in place we expect to see an increase in calls to police and other
front line responders like paramedics."

David Gibson, executive director of the Sandy Hill Community Health
Centre, said the organization proposes to have a full-time worker -
it's calling the position a greeter - who would monitor the interior
and exterior of the building.

Currently, the job of the security staffer also involves distributing
supplies, but the community has suggested making security a dedicated
position, he said.

A "roving position" is important so the worker gets to know clients,
Gibson said.

Gibson said he's not surprised by the comments in Bordeleau's letter,
which the Sandy Hill health centre requested as part of its federal
application for a supervised injection site at its Nelson Street facility.

The Ottawa Police Service has been consistently skeptical about the
Sandy Hill health centre opening a supervised injection site. Many of
the police force's public comments are echoed in Bordeleau's letter.

"We believe this site has the potential to become a congregating area
for drug users," Bordeleau writes. "While we appreciate and support
the potential benefits this site may provide those users, we can't
ignore the need for strong mitigation strategies for the potential
negative impacts SIS would bring, especially as they relate to social
disorder and crime."

In the letter, Bordeleau says police also expect drug dealers will
target clients of the injection site around the facility, which he
notes could become "a congregating area for drug users."

Gibson said the Sandy Hill health centre's application reflects what
the organization heard in community consultations.

"Community safety and enforcement are critical pillars to any SIS
application and operation," Gibson said.

The health centre has received all seven agency letters it needs for
the application, including one from Mayor Jim Watson, who is letting
the Ottawa Public Health board have the authority on the issue for the
city.

Watson has expressed concerns about Ottawa having a supervised
injection site.

Coun. Eli El-Chantiry, chair of the Ottawa Police Services board,
agrees that the public health board should be in charge of the issue.

The Sandy Hill health centre also received a letter this week from the
Ontario Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services.

The Jan. 9 letter is signed by Kevin Flynn, who was filling in as
community safety and corrections minister before Ottawa-Orleans MPP
Marie-France Lalonde took over the portfolio Thursday.

Flynn's letter, which is addressed to federal Health Minister Jane
Philpott, said the approach proposed by the Sandy Hill health centre
"is consistent with community safety and well-being principles" and he
encourages the plan to include detox and addiction services.

"It will be important that the services be provided in a health care
setting, under the supervision of health care professionals, as the
centre proposes," Flynn writes.

The board of the Sandy Hill Community Health Centre will decide
Wednesday if it should submit the application for an injection site.
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MAP posted-by: Matt