Alberta Solicitor General checks in with Lethbridge officials on city needs

Schweitzer admitted he’s learning a lot in the discussions.

“It’s driven home to me how important it is that we have a well-rounded approach to addiction issues, as well as mental health issues here in Lethbridge and surrounding area. The local MLAs have raised this issue as well, so we want to make sure our approach is thought-through. In addition to going after organized crime, going after people bringing the drugs into the community, but also helping people who are addicts and and getting them the treatment that they deserve.”

“Our government has a big focus on treatment, not just the supervised consumption sites, but also on treatment. It’s been a big emphasis of our government in making sure that we can deliver on that. It’s a big part of our strategy and a collaboration between justice and health care.”

In terms of the drug treatment courts, Schweitzer was asked if it’s reasonable that Lethbridge expect something here?

“We’re hoping to get to that goal line and I do believe Lethbridge is well-positioned to do it. Part of our mandate is to expand the reach of drug treatment courts outside of the two major cities in Alberta and get them into our mid sized centres. So we’re trying to see if we can get that done – there seems to be a desire for it at city hall, as well as a willingness to work with us in the courts. So, hopefully we can get that done here in the near-term.”

LNN has a copy of a letter to the city about a Scan (Safer Communities and Neighborhoods) Unit, and that the province wasn’t in a fiscal position to expand that beyond where the scan units already exist. Schweitzer was asked if it’s possible a unit might be reconsidered for Lethbridge in the near future?

“We’re looking at lots of different ways that we can expand the reach of law enforcement across the province of Alberta. One of the things that I talked to city hall about, was the expansion of the Alberta law enforcement response team (ALERT). We see the big drug busts and getting illegal firearms off the street. Quite often ALERT is working in collaboration with local law enforcement on those initiatives and one of the big things that we announced in the last budget, was expanding funding to ALERT.”

“We have an officer for ALERT here in Lethbridge, so one of the things we’re looking at is potentially expanding the scope of that, but again, we just want to talk to people locally – to ensure that they know that we are aware of the issues and we are working to help solve them.”

The big issues at the meeting were addictions, drug use, wellness for people who have mental health issues and challenges.

“How do we deal with the pressures on our court system – how do we deal with the pressures in our communities to make sure people know that they are safe, that they can come downtown and just different steps that we can take. Some of it’s within my ministry and some is within health and other ministries as well.

As for the report on SCSs and when they might be made public or when we might hear about the future of those sites, Schweitzer said that was up to the Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions

Schweitzer did have a parting message for area residents.

“I want people to know I do my best to get out to every region of the province to learn and hear about different challenges tat they have. Lethbridge is an amazing community – the social supports, the people that are here in the community who are willing to develop programs – I’m always blown away when I come down here, about how forward thinking the city is and what good partners they’ve been so far to work with.”

by Dori Modney and David Opinko

Alberta Solicitor General checks in with Lethbridge officials on city needs

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