Alberta court judge dismisses bid to stall closure of supervised drug sites

An Alberta court judge has dismissed a last-ditch legal effort to halt the closures of two supervised consumption sites in the province.

Edmonton lawyer Avnish Nanda applied for an injunction to stall the closures of the sites in Calgary and Lethbridge until he could challenge the decision to wind them down.

The Alberta government has been gradually shuttering the facilities across the province, where substance users are given sterile equipment for drug use and staffed supervision in case of an overdose.

Nanda’s client, Travie Peddie, says in an affidavit that he is an addict and has frequently overdosed at both sites, but has been saved by staff.