Several turn out for protest opposing supervised consumption site closure

CALGARY – Several people turned out for a protest outside the Sheldon Chumir Medical Centre on Friday.

The group showed up in support of the supervised consumption site as it is slated for closure, and as changes to supervised consumption services are brought forward by the United Conservative Party government.

Small crowd here but with a clear message. Harm reduction saves lives. They say moving this site is problematic. 4 years of building trust within the community that has a hard time trusting. Many users don’t know about the eventual shutdown either. https://t.co/w2U0alxikm

— Jared Launchbury (@JaredLaunch) June 5, 2021

One ER doctor spoke to Postmedia and says the new rules are making it harder for people that have to use the sites.

There are concerns that requesting the health card numbers of those looking to access the service, would create unnecessary red tape.

The guidelines could prevent many vulnerable people from going to the supervised consumption sites, causing more harm and death to drug users. Doctors say that they may either not have health cards, or don’t want to be identified as a drug user.

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The UCP plans to open two new consumption sites with different partners elsewhere in the city.

The Alberta government responded to the protest on Friday afternoon in a statement from spokesperson Justin Marshall:

“As stated many times Alberta’s government is taking a city by city approach regarding the location of supervised consumption services. Our principled approach will continue to provide services while protecting community safety. Supervised consumption services will continue to operate in Alberta. We will be relocating the existing supervised consumption site, which has been highly disruptive to the neighborhood, and instead add SCS capabilities within two existing partner organizations’ facilities situated in more appropriate locations. While we cannot announce those locations quite yet, we can confirm that they will be situated much closer to those who need such services. We hope to have more to say in the future, but rest assured that the Chumir site will not close until the new facilities are operational.

Alberta’s government is implementing consistent standards for supervised consumption services across all service providers will result in higher quality services, improved integration with the health-care system, and better community safety. Services will continue and Albertans seeking support will not experience any related disruption in service.

Asking for a personal health number will help connect clients to the health care system, in order to provide them with access to a range of other services and supports available to help them. Clients shall not be refused services while they are in the process of looking up a PHN or obtaining/renewing coverage. In situations where an individual cannot produce a personal health number, Alberta Health has created new processes to help staff support individuals to obtain this information, with client consent.

Our government is committed to a high quality and easily accessible system of care for both mental health and addictions that includes a full continuum of supports, including services to reduce harm. Albertans deserve no less. People with addiction deserve no less.”