Hundreds protest the province's addictions strategy outside closing safe consumption site
Hundreds of Calgarians rallied in support of Alberta's safe consumption sites (SCS) Saturday as a deadly stretch of fatal overdoses continues in the province.
About 200 people waved signs and listened to speeches at Central Memorial Park, which is across the road from the Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre and the Safeworks SCS.
Trevor Fedan took the mic to speak about the impact Safeworks has had on his life.
"It's not a want," Fedan told CTV News. "As users, we need a place like that with supportive staff. A place where we're not going to be judged. At Safeworks, if you buy into the program, the world is your oyster."
Fedan was joined Saturday by other SCS clients, doctors and neighbourhood residents.
They all believe the recent provincial government decision to shutter the facility will take a toll on those who need it the most.
The site is a place where clients can use substances with clean equipment and nearby medical professionals.
In 2020, almost 54,000 people utilized Safeworks.
"I'm angry that our government is taking actions that are going in the wrong direction," Lori Vrebosch said. "There's no compassion, there's no understanding. I'm angry (because) I support harm reduction and evidence-based strategies."
Vrebosch lost her son to an accidental fatal overdose. She's not alone.
Last year was Alberta's deadliest year ever for overdoses.
1,144 opioid-related deaths were recorded.
A month after announcing the Safeworks closure and shuttering similar programs in other municipalities, the United Conservative government argues it is increasing treatment access.
The province has pledged to overhaul the way resources are made available to those in need, and says it is planning two facilities to replace Safeworks.
Details about those facilities have not been made available.
An interview request sent to the associate minister of mental health and addictions was not returned Saturday.
His office instead sent a statement citing community disruptions that led to the Safeworks closure and promising better treatment policy than the previous NDP government.
Press secretary Justin Marshall went on to say, "we understand that some wish to adopt a Vancouver-style social chaos approach, including flooding the streets with taxpayer-funded oxy-contin style narcotics, but we firmly reject that view.”
Protestor and physician Bonnie Larson says her group believes Jason Luan should resign.
"He has not even identified this complex problem correctly," she said. "This is a death crisis where we're losing 4 people a day in our province. This community clearly supports Safeworks in this location."
The province closed the busiest supervised consumption site in Canada last year.
The government cited "financial irregularities" when it pulled funding from ARCHES in Lethbridge, but no charges were laid following an extensive financial investigation.
Ninety Calgary businesses banded together to show support for similar harm reduction earlier in the week.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Minister 'outraged' after AFN national chief's headdress taken from Air Canada cabin
The federal minister of Crown-Indigenous relations is calling on Air Canada to 'make things right' with the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, who said her headdress was removed from an airplane cabin during a flight this week.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Canada recognizes housing as a human right. Few provinces have followed suit
As more Canadians find themselves struggling to afford or find housing, the country's smallest province is the only one that can point to legislation recognizing housing as a human right.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.