Members of Interfaith Grand River (IGR) are calling on the province to rethink closing Consumption and Remedy Websites (CTS) together with the one on Duke Avenue, downtown Kitchener.
The group despatched an open letter this week to ask Premier Doug Ford and MPPs to help CTS websites and supply extra funding for dependancy therapy. It was signed by 15 native leaders of various faiths, together with one of many founders of IGR, Rev. Brice Balmer.
“We’ve gotten behind, in terms of how we deal with drugs and alcohol in our community,” stated Balmer.
IGR is hoping the province will maintain CTS websites open, after a choice in August was made that can shut ten in March.
“When you go to a Safe Consumption Site you begin to trust people. A lot of people who are struggling with addictions have been traumatized. They don’t trust people anymore and they don’t trust institutions anymore. They see the stigma against them. As they go to the safe consumption sites they begin to talk with people, people help them, they don’t die, they can check their drugs.”
Balmer added they are going to be upset if they’ve to observe the CTS websites shut, “It has an effect on the community and the individuals using it.”
IGR is asking on the province to create a regulatory framework that permits CTS websites to remain open and supply hurt discount. They’re asking the federal government to handle security issues like proximity to varsities or daycares with higher investments that get to the foundation trigger. They wish to maintain these points from spreading across the area as effectively.
“We will be very, very upset if they have to close and we appreciate the region and city standing to keep the safe consumption site open,” stated Balmer.
“IGR would just encourage the region and people to get move involved and try to help the people that are struggling with homelessness and mental health.”
The open letter was despatched to Premier Doug Ford, Deputy Premier and Well being Minister Sylvia Jones, Catherine Fife (MPP Waterloo), Mike Harris (MPP Kitchener-Conestoga), Aislinn Clancey (MPP Kitchener Centre), Jess Dixon (MPP Kitchener South-Hespeler), and Brian Riddell (MPP Cambridge).
