Safe Consumption Sites Locations to be Considered in Williams Lake

Williams Lake may be a home for new Safe Consumption Sites.

A contentious discussion in last night’s council meeting ended in a near split vote to clear mayor and council to work with Interior Health on placing a site within the city.

Each councilor voiced their opinions on the matter. Councilor Scott Nelson, posted a video on Facebook on the subject earlier before the meeting, was the sole voice against the council’s recommendation to add a site. Saying that what matters is that council engage and ask the community of Williams Lake if they wanted safe consumption sites, instead of following Interior Health’s direction.

“I simply can’t personally support the recommendation that’s on the table,” Nelson voiced. “I can only imagine what the community is thinking. I think we need to discuss this with the community, first of all, prior to engaging the services of Interior Health.”

Councilor Angie Delainey, was for a site, saying that it was a “service” that the community could not “get away with not having.” Councilors Joan Flaspohler and Jazmyn Lyons were in support of the recommendation. Stating that these were “services” that will benefit the growing drug use in B.C’s interior, and ones that the city needs.

“It’s making it so that there’s opportunities for people concerned of their loved ones having a space that they’re not going to overdose.” Councilor Flaspohler said. “That there’s somebody who can actually be there to try and support them.”

“We have an overburdened healthcare system,” Councilor Lyons added. “Safe Consumption Sites help take that burden off. It’s monitored, it’s safer, it’s taking emergencies away.”

The final decision on when and where a Safe Consumption Site will be located and how many are needed will be determined with the input of Interior Health. Mayor Rathor concluded this item saying that Mayor and Council will be listening to the community on their wishes for the site.