Lethbridge Councillor Blaine Hyggen and Community Advocate Mallory Kristjanson

By Lara Fominoff

Councillor, community advocate and mayor react to Premier Jason Kenney’s comments on SCS

Jan 23, 2020 | 7:14 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A Lethbridge city councillor and a community advocate are applauding comments made recently by Premier Jason Kenney regarding supervised consumption sites in Alberta, while Mayor Chris Spearman says the city is facing “challenges.”

The premier said on Monday, while the results of a provincial panel that set out to review the economic and social impacts those site have had so far on local businesses and the neighborhood in which they are located won’t be released for a couple of weeks, it is possible some SCS sites may be closed or relocated.

While funded mainly through provincial monies, SCS sites are federally mandated through Health Canada.

Still, Councillor Blaine Hyggen believes the location of the Lethbridge site and the way the services are provided there were not initially thoroughly thought through, even though there is a need for harm reduction services in the city.

“I think the area where it’s at is not the correct place. I don’t think there was enough community engagement to get – prior to it being put there. So, I think that’s another part to that puzzle is to have it moved to a location that would be better suited, and maybe the services being changed, or being operated in a more efficient manner.”

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Those sentiments are echoed by the spokesperson for the Lethbridge group Connecting Our Community, Mallory Kristjanson who also adds that she believes the health of those who are chronically addicted to drugs and alcohol is not improving, but rather deteriorating.

“Right now, I believe we are doing the individuals on the streets a disservice by not allowing them quick access to treatment, to mental health (services), to detox and intox facilities.

“I have worked for three years as a volunteer on the streets, and I have watched over the last two years specifically, individuals deteriorate at a level that is absolutely inhumane because we’ve handed out needles and we’ve encouraged illegal drug use…it would do a better service to individuals on our streets to have all all four (harm reduction) pillars, versus just one in our community.”

However, Mayor Chris Spearman says closing or moving the supervised consumption site in Lethbridge may not be the right solution.

“We’re not sure closing or moving supervised consumption sites will solve the problem. I think drug use will still continue. Right now, it’s centered in one area. For five years we’ve been advocating heavily for other services- you know, detox services, supportive housing, intox services and long-term treatment and recovery. So, without those services it’s been challenging.”

At the same time, he says the City has been dealing with issues within its jurisdiction to try to provide a safe place for citizens and businesses. That said, Lethbridge needs the additional supports and money from the provincial government that larger centres like Calgary and Edmonton seem to continually receive.

“It’s been a struggle for us,” he says.

That said, he does not believe the city’s SCS is failing in its service to the community.

“The fact that it’s being used extensively would say that it’s not failing, and we’re keeping people alive.”

But if the SCS is moved or if funding is reallocated, Hyggen doesn’t believe the results will be as dire as has been predicted.

“It seems so often we’re hearing one side to the story…Mayor Spearman and myself vary quite differently on — the direction…I want to make sure my voice comes out as well…We’re not that far apart. It’s how we get there, is the important part. We both want the same thing. We both want a safe community and it’s just how we’re gonna get there.”