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Hamilton discusses proposed safe consumption site in Ward 3

Posted:February 14, 2023 | 1:24 AM
By:Alex Last

Updated: 4 April 2024

Another safe consumption site in Hamilton was the focus of a discussion at the city’s board of health meeting on Monday. City councillors heard from several delegates who are proposing the site be located in central Hamilton.

Monday’s meeting began with a community member asking mayor Andrea Horwath and councillors to declare a state of emergency for opioid overdoses and death in the city.

According to data from the city, there have been more than 100 suspected overdose calls since the start of the year with most of them happening in central Hamilton.

The Aids Network asked the city to endorse an application for a second safe consumption and treatment service site in Hamilton.

The Aids Network is proposing that a safe consumption and treatment site be placed at 746 Barton Street East.

Several other delegates voiced their support saying, “there are many life-saving reasons for a location there, for a program there including addressing overdoses, naloxone and harm reduction distribution,” Executive director of The Aids Network, Tim McClemont said.

However, some delegates who live in the neighbourhood near the proposed location say they don’t disagree with the need for a new site but disagree with the location saying The Aids Network did not consult with them.

By the end of the meeting, the board of health motioned to endorse the application.

“The ministry of health makes the ultimate decision on this, so this motion will go forward now to them, and they asked us for that with the specific indication of 746 Barton Street East, so we will do that now and we’ll see where they go from there,” McClemont said.

The Aids Network says it will continue to work with residents of the neighbourhoods surrounding the proposed location as it awaits the provincial government’s approval.