Listen Live
HomeNewsCommunityCity of Nanaimo requests Island Health close supervised consumption site 

City of Nanaimo requests Island Health close supervised consumption site 

Nanaimo city council is scheduled to debate a motion to ask Island Health to address the open drug sites in the city. 

According to the council agenda, councillor Ian Thorpe has requested the motion be brought forward to review how sites are dealt with in the city, and to push for facilities to be drug-free. 

“That council formally request Island Health to close the supervised drug consumption site at 250 Albert Street, and put future efforts toward drug-free treatment facilities,” the motion reads.  

Thorpe says his heart goes out to those who have suffered and those who have been impacted, and now it’s time to stand up to the province and get results. 

“We’re mad, and we aren’t going to take it anymore,” he says. 

Councillors say they’ve been dealing with the issue of street disorder and other challenges facing Nanaimo, and Paul Manly says the province has failed municipalities with their inaction on drug addiction and mental health challenges. 

“I think money better spent would be to rent some buses, buy some market tents and ship them over to Gabriola Island in front of the MLA’s house,” he says in a council meeting. “I am fed up, and you want to wake people up.” 

“This is my community, and it’s not doing well.” 

Delegations also appeared before council to convey their frustrations over the location of the Drop-In Hub at 55 Victoria Road to urge the city to coax the province to act and remedy the situation.  

Discussions are expected to start at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre on Monday at 7 p.m. 

- Advertisment -
- Advertisment -
- Advertisement -

Continue Reading

More