Point Douglas residents react to the new detox detention facility

Residents in the Point Douglas neighbourhood have mixed opinions after Bill-48 was passed in the legislature this week, shortly after Premier Wab Kinew announced a facility at 190 Disraeli Freeway that will be operational within the month, which will see people who are under the influence of narcotics be detained for up to three days.

“Those folks who are addicted to meth or other medications are going to be around there anyway, so I would rather them be in a place where possibly they’re safer,” said Elaine Bishop, a Point Douglas Resident.

Dale Peterson, another Point Douglas resident, said, “I think it’s a good idea, they need to hold them longer than they were, and they need more qualified people to help these people that are addicted to these drugs.”

Meanwhile, some in the neighbourhood have raised concerns about the location of the site.

The Point Douglas Residents Committee penned a statement mentioning the facility, and claims that Housing, Homelessness, and Addictions Minister Bernadette Smith has been blocking their emails asking for more consultation. The group has declined all media requests, and Minister Smith denied the claim.

“The person who is too caught up in their addiction to take care of themselves is no longer going to decide how safe the rest of the community is.  Instead, the rest of the community is going to step up, get them the treatment that they need, but most importantly, say: ‘We’re taking back our streets,’” said Premier Kinew.

Bishop said, “I think it’s a combination of appreciating the concern for community safety, but also it’s an opportunity, and we’ve seen in some other situations that it opens potential doors. When you look at how they’re going to staff it, and we still don’t completely don’t know how they’re going to staff it, they are going to have medical staff on site, and they are going to do referrals.”