Montreal supervised drug site says forced move under proposed Quebec law could cost $6.6M
7 metres more and the supervised drug consumption site would be far enough away, says Maison Benoît-Labre
A supervised drug consumption site in Montreal's Sud-Ouest borough that could be forced to move if a proposed Quebec law is adopted said the change of location could cost an estimated $6.6 million.
Under Bill 103, supervised drug consumption sites can't be located within 150 metres of a school or daycare.
Maison Benoît-Labre, which houses a homeless shelter and supervised site, would have to move given its proximity to Victor-Rousselot elementary school.
"We're at 143 metres at this point, door to door," said Andréane Désilets, Maison Benoît-Labre's executive director, stressing that if the centre was seven metres further away it would be compliant.
Désilets made the comments in Quebec City, during consultations into Bill 103, tabled by Social Services Minister Lionel Carmant.
The bill comes in response to concerns over supervised drug consumption sites, including the Maison Benoît-Labre.
Parents and nearby residents flagged concerns about the area, including many saying they've witnessed open drug use, aggressive behaviour and sexual conduct from frequenters of the day centre, including when children are around.
The back door of the centre borders a park used by students of Victor-Rousselot elementary school.
Désilets admitted cohabitation has been an issue, especially when the supervised site opened just over a year ago.
"We did work very hard with the community," she said, reiterating how a change of location isn't the way to improve things.
"Everyone sat down and thought of a better plan and now there is a big [improvement] at this point."
Nonetheless, Désilets said the group will comply with the law, but added there needs to be more government support.
Carmant said the bill clearly states that everything will be taken charge of by Santé Québec, the Health Ministry's new operational arm.
"If there are financial issues, the government will have to contribute obviously," he told reporters. "We've always been supporting these centres. We're the ones financing them."
He specified, however, that the government would provide its own budget regarding any costs associated to a change of location.
"We have to confirm that the numbers that they are providing are correct and this will be done through Santé Québec," Carmant said.
Désilets said a move is a complicated process and fears its impacts are being underestimated.
"It's hard. It's hard on the staff. It's hard on everyone," she said, "It's very complicated to also maintain the services, make sure that there's no overdoses at the same time — at the new location at the old location."
As it stands, supervised drug consumption sites located near schools would have four years to move.
Coalition says bill doesn't go far enough
For parents and residents living near Victor-Rousselot school, however, four years is too long to wait.
In a news release, the Victor-Rousselot Coalition, an ad hoc group made up of community members, said the bill doesn't go far enough in protecting students.
The four-year delay, the group says, "prolongs a dangerous situation for students, without immediate measures to ensure their safety."
They are asking for the deadline for relocation to be reduced or done away with entirely, and suggest the minister use his discretionary powers to close the Maison Benoît-Labre immediately and make clear what support measures it will put in place to ensure a quick relocation.
The group also wants the buffer zone extended to 250 metres around schools and that the distance be calculated from the furthest extent of school property — such as the end of the playground, for example — and not based on the school's street address.
Meanwhile, Guillaume Cliche-Rivard, Québec Solidaire's social services critic, also said the minister needs to make amendments to improve the legislation.
He was critical of the bill saying the responsibility for cohabitation rests on the shoulders of the community groups who run the sites, but they don't have the means or funds to do that.
"Quebec needs to be a partner with those [organizations]," he said.
"What we know is that they were not consulted into drafting this bill, not consulted as we speak as well. So of course we need to do better."
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With files from Steve Rukavina and Cathy Senay