Funding concerns delay new drug consumption site
Story by Hailey Goebel
Participants in a rally to support the approved consumption and treatment services site are shown at Windsor City Hall on Monday, Jan. 30, before the start of a city council meeting. Photo courtesy of Dan Janisse.
In a six to five vote on Monday, Feb. 13, Windsor’s city council agreed to seek a budget report about the new consumption and treatment services site from administration.
Ward 6 Coun. Jo-Anne Gignac requested the city provide a report on the “financial implications.”
Those in favour were Mayor Drew Dilkens, Ward 1 Coun. Fred Francis, Ward 4 Coun. Mark McKenzie, Ward 5 Coun. Ed Sleiman and Ward 8 Coun. Gary Kaschak.
“We’re looking to scrape every penny together to ease the burden on our local taxpayer,” said Gignac.
According to Gignac, her concern is the funding for the safe injection site has not been secured from the province.
“I want to hear from administration,” said Gignac. “I want them to have discussions with the health unit and come back to council and lay it out for us so that all of the city residents know exactly what we’re getting into.”
Ward 2 Coun. Fabio Costante, who chairs the board of health, opposed Gignac.
Joining Costante in opposition were Ward 3 Coun. Renaldo Agostino, Ward 7 Coun. Angelo Marignani, Ward 9 Coun. Kieran McKenzie and Ward 10 Coun. Jim Morrison.
“If we’re going to delay this to budget time, we’re delaying the application to the municipality and that’s going to delay this service in our community,” said Costante.
According to Windsor Essex Community Opioid and Substance Strategy (WECOSS), Consumption and Treatment Services (CTS) sites are part of a harm reduction strategy to prevent emergency room visits and overdose deaths from drug use. Clients arrive at the CTS site with their own drugs and are assessed by staff for eligibility. They receive sterile equipment and education on safer use. A trained staff supervises their use and oversees the client in a waiting room following use to monitor any negative reactions.
Safepoint located at 101 Wyandotte St. East in downtown Windsor – the soon-to-be established health facility will provide a safe space for people to consume pre-obtained drugs under the supervision of medically trained workers. – Photo by: Hailey Goebel
Staff will promote support services to clients and assist in making the connections when clients are ready to take that step. Additional education, social supports and information are available on site.
Everything is on pause until the local municipality endorses the site, according to Costante.
“This is going to hurt the application, in my view,” Costante said. “I think this is a really dangerous move forward. The municipality’s role is to either endorse the site or not endorse the site. It’s not to get into the weeds on this.”
Windsorite Kamryn Cusumano, a CTS site advocate, said she doesn’t understand how council can put a price on the health and safety of Windsor’s community members.
Following the council meeting, Dilkens said city council was told the CTS site would be provincially funded.
“Now, the request is to have the municipalities pick up the bill while they wait for provincial funding,” Dilkens added. “That is very, very different and very unusual.”
Council requested administration report back. The earliest being on Feb. 27, the next council meeting, and the absolute latest being prior to the budget deliberation session on April 3, regarding the financial implications, obligations and risks associated with the opening of the CTS site, without funding from the Government of Ontario or the Government of Canada.
Dilkens said what council is being asked to decide on is very different than normal health unit operations.
“We’re just trying to get information,” said Dilkens. “You’re asking us to approve something that is extremely different from the way we operate any other service at the health unit.”
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