A notice of motion to rescind Windsor City Council's support for the safe consumption site downtown has been revoked.
Instead, Mayor Drew Dilkens says a "compromise" to the motion has been worked out and will be presented at the next City Council meeting in two weeks. The Consumption and Treatment Services site (CTS), known as SafePoint, will open by the end of March pending approval from Health Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Health. In return, the option for a long-term location will stay on the table.
Around 100 people gathered outside Windsor City Hall Monday afternoon in opposition to the notice of motion presented by Ward 3 Councillor Renaldo Agostino. The councillor had placed the motion because he was concerned about the location of the CTS being so close to a border crossing and other downtown businesses. Agostino maintains, though, that he does not oppose a CTS.
Rally organizer and downtown business owner Kamryn Cusumano said the consumption and treatment site should not be delayed any further.
"This site is almost ready to go in March and so it makes no sense to not go through with it. Tax dollars have already been spent on this location, we need to go through with it," said Cusumano. "If they feel like the location is not good, we need to just try it out and if it's proven to not be good, then we can just move it later. But there is no reason for lives to be lost because of a location issue."
The Windsor Essex County Health Unit is aiming to have the safe consumption and treatment site at 101 Wyandotte Street East open in March after years of consultation with the community.
On Monday, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit’s Opioid and Substance Use Notification System issued an alert after 11 opioid overdoses were reported between January 20 and 26. Of the 11 cases reported, nine involved fentanyl.
---with files from Mark Brown
