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Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Health
- Winnipeg Free Press
Scrutiny for supervised drug consumption site in Victoria's ‘Downtown Eastside'
VICTORIA – The value of a supervised consumption site in the heart of Victoria's most downtrodden neighbourhood is under debate — is it a life-saving tool, or a magnet for drug dealers victimizing those in an encampment on the site's doorstep? Victoria Coun. Marg Gardiner said the facility is a draw for both 'those addicted to drugs and for drug dealers, who prey on the weak and ill among those encamped' in the three blocks along Pandora Avenue. 'It's Victoria's Downtown Eastside,' she said in an interview, likening Pandora to the Vancouver neighbourhood plagued by crime, poverty and addiction. Gardiner tabled a motion that went before council this week asking Victoria to formally request Island Health to close the facility, along with a second nearby facility, by Aug. 31. The council put off any request and the issue was deferred until Nov. 6. Mayor Marianne Alto said time was needed to gather evidence for a 'well-informed discussion' about a 'very complex' issue like supervised-consumption sites. Gardiner's motion was prompted by a presentation to council last month from Dr. Reka Gustafson, Island Health's chief medical health officer. Gustafson said the 'vast majority of people who use substances' are not using the Pandora facility, adding that about 80 people are using inhalation services at the site each day. 'The estimated number of people who use opiates in British Columbia is 225,000,' she said. 'So, I think it's really important that the overwhelming majority of people, who use substances and who are dying from toxic substances aren't the people, who are visible to us, aren't necessarily the individuals, that we often talk about.' For Gardiner, Gustafson's comments mean that users of the facility 'tend to be regular clientele' while 'most of those encamped on the 900 block of Pandora do not seek' out the facility. Island Health did not directly respond to a request for an interview about Gustafson's comments but provided a statement describing the value of the consumption site. Many consider the 800 to 1,000 blocks of Pandora Avenue the epicentre of Victoria's homelessness challenge with multiple tents and other sleeping structures set up along its sidewalks. Bicycles and shopping carts loaded with belongings are parked nearby. Portable fencing has been set up to separate the encampment from a nearby church and other businesses. Alto said delaying Gardiner's motion would give the city time to implement its recently approved Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan, which includes several items to address that section of Pandora Ave. The mayor earlier this month announced the plan that would pour $10.35 million into more police and bylaw officers, temporary housing and cleanup as it tries to reduce crime, homelessness and addiction. The supervised consumption site, known as The Harbour, first opened its doors in June 2018 as Victoria's first such facility under a federal exemption to the Controlled Drug and Substances Act that is set to expire in 2027. The facility supervises people who consume drugs through their nose, mouth, injections and inhalation, so that they can receive immediate treatment in case they overdose. It also provides safer drug use supplies, drug testing, harm-reduction supplies and harm-reduction education among other services. Island Health, which operates the facility in partnership with Lookout Housing and Health Society and Solid Outreach Society, said in its statement that the facility is part of 'evidence-based health services that reduce adverse outcomes and death for people who use substances.' Island Health said the facility received about 3,000 visits from 445 different people in June. It said three drug poisonings happened inside the facility with no deaths or adverse events last month. Preliminary information from the BC Centre for Disease Control shows that Island Health's seven overdose prevention and supervised consumption sites have averted an estimated 2,140 deaths between January 2019 and October 2024. As of June 10, 2025, Greater Victoria has recorded 36 overdose deaths, down from 161 in 2024 and 175 in 2023. Gardiner said in an interview that she knew the likelihood of council supporting her closure motion was 'quite low,' but defended it by saying that the 'general public has to know what is going on' on Pandora. She said she believes the consumption sites are not working, and she suggests they should be closed entirely, rather than moved elsewhere. The supervised consumption sites have failed, Gardiner said, especially against the backdrop of the deadly opioid fentanyl, which she said was a 'game-changer' in Victoria's drug subculture. 'The normalization of illicit drugs is harmful to individuals, who fall victim to drug addiction,' she said. 'It's harmful to their families, and it's harmful to society at large. If this council is committed to a safer city, it must do more than increase enforcement, while supporting illicit drug use behind closed door, because that is what we are doing.' Alto said during debate that deferral of the motion gives time to discuss the future of the facility, not just with Island Health, but also with the province and other actors in the health field, including public health officials. She said they'll be able to gather some evidence to have a 'well-informed discussion' and allow them to perhaps adjust the motion. Wednesdays Columnist Jen Zoratti looks at what's next in arts, life and pop culture. 'I will say that I have already been in conversation with a number of those people, including (B.C. Health Minister) Josie Osborne,' Alto said Thursday, adding that Osborne had signalled a willingness to continue the conversation on improving the situation along Pandora Avenue. Gardiner opposed deferral, saying that she does not 'want to wait another two years' before Victoria makes a decision. Island Health didn't comment on the deferral. 'Island Health is aware of the recent motion before Victoria city council,' it said in its statement. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 12, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
03-07-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Victoria mayor announces $10 million on diverted spending for community safety
VICTORIA - Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto said residents will see a difference in community safety within six months after announcing $10.35 million in funding for additional police and bylaw officers, temporary housing and the 'huge task' of cleaning up parts of the city. Alto's announcement comes after the city released a Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan last month on how it will tackle declining social disorder in the city set off by homelessness and addiction. The council will not raise taxes to fund the measures, but will divert money from existing plans in this year's budget, with a focus on Victoria's Pandora Avenue, which is considered the centre of the city's homeless problem, the mayor said. A tent community on Pandora Avenue set up along temporary fencing that separates it from the nearby church was bustling on Wednesday with residents coming and going. Alto said council had to make 'hard choices,' but the 'urgency of responding to the city's social disorder crisis is paramount.' The mayor said her announcement is not in reaction to recent chaos, including several assaults, that Victoria police said they've responded to in the last few weeks, but it is instead an intentional and thoughtful plan they've been working on for months. Victoria city council is expected to ratify the safety and well-being plan Thursday following its approval in principle last month. Alto said about $1.9 million of the announced funding will go toward additional bylaw enforcement, with the city set to hire 12 enforcement officers to focus on Pandora and Princess avenues, and the downtown generally. It will be an ongoing expenditure, she said, along with the hiring of nine more police officers to support enforcement downtown, without giving a timeline for their hiring. 'But I do know that Chief (Del) Manak has suggested that there are ways to do this quickly, and I will rely, of course, on his expertise to figure out how to do that,' she said. The city is budgeting about $1.35 million in on-going costs for the additional officers. The city said in a news release that 'resources are needed to demonstrate that criminals can no longer thrive in Victoria,' and Alto acknowledged that 'in some parts of the community,' criminals are 'taking advantage of vulnerable folks.' The city will also work with experienced service providers to establish new secure, short-term emergency shelter spaces outside the downtown core by investing what Alta said was a 'significant amount of money.' Figures from the city call for a one-time infrastructure investment of up to $1.95 million, up to $300,000 for property rentals and up to $250,000 to boost existing shelter capacities. 'Let me be clear — we do not have any specific destinations in mind at this point,' she said, referring to where those in tents would go. 'But we do know, that if we don't step in, at least on a temporary basis for a couple of years, and create some destinations for these folks, they are still going to languish where they are.' Alto added that the city still has much work to do to determine how these spaces would work. 'Could we have moved faster?' Alto said. 'Yes! Was it important for us to allow there to be time to figure out what to do and how best to do it? Yes! Were we trying to make sure that we were playing ball with the other orders of government? Yes! At a point, we realized that we can't wait any longer.' Also on the list of changes is a 'comprehensive rebuild' of the 800, 900 and 1000 blocks of Pandora Avenue, where a transient homeless community has been long established, and it grew larger during the pandemic. Early design estimates put the rebuild at more than $7 million, but the city said 'preliminary work will make tangible changes with a $3.75 million budget' starting in 2025. Alto also used the occasion to remind senior spheres of government about their responsibilities to help the city with financial resources and legislative changes, including bail reform that allows repeat offenders back into the community. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 2, 2025.
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Time of India
Violent Canada Day chaos forces Victoria to launch 10 million emergency plan
The City of Victoria is investing over $10.35 million into public safety initiatives after a wave of violent incidents across the city's downtown during the Canada Day long weekend. Mayor Marianne Alto announced the funding on Wednesday(July 2) as part of the city's Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan, a key component of its 2023–2026 strategic vision. Alto called the decision 'the single most important' the city council has made. 'We must do this. We must,' she said during a news conference outside Victoria City Hall. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo The funding includes $1.9 million to hire 12 new bylaw officers who will be deployed in high-risk areas such as Pandora Avenue and Princess Street. An additional $1.35 million will allow Victoria Police to recruit nine new officers. The city is also contributing a one-time payment of $220,000 to match provincial funding through the Community Safety and Targeted Enforcement Program (C-STEP). Victoria Police Chief Del Manak welcomed the move, saying his department is currently short 44 officers. Live Events 'We've been under-resourced for years. This is a much-needed investment, and we're already planning aggressive recruitment to fill these gaps,' Manak said. The announcement comes days after a series of unrelated but troubling incidents across the city. A business owner on Yates Street was assaulted by a man unknown to him on Sunday. Later that evening, a separate individual attacked another person with an edged weapon nearby. That victim reportedly ran into a London Drugs store for safety. Earlier that day, a man armed with a weapon threatened the Victoria Fire Department headquarters. The man arrested in the bike shop assault was later released on conditions, police confirmed. The city is also addressing homelessness and mental health by allocating $1.95 million for two short-term shelter facilities, along with $850,000 in operational support and $300,000 for property rentals. Another $624,000 will support housing nonprofits to expand relocation services for unhoused individuals. Victoria resident Sasha Santana said she often feels unsafe, regardless of time of day. 'I think there's a lot of different aspects, mental health, substance use, people not getting support. And people not knowing how to handle it,' she told CBC. Mayor Alto emphasized the plan is not reactionary. 'What you're hearing today is a thoughtful plan that has been percolating for months,' she said. Victoria's strategic reallocation of funds comes without raising taxes. The plan includes public infrastructure upgrades and a transport strategy to relocate unhoused people to services beyond the downtown core.
Global News
02-07-2025
- Global News
‘There's an urgency': Victoria unveils $10M for first steps of public safety plan
Victoria's mayor has unveiled a $10-million plan to boost public safety in the city's downtown core, which she says will have a visible impact before the end of the year. The money will go primarily to hiring new police and bylaw officers, temporary housing, and public works to ensure 'the cleanliness, hygiene, look, feel, atmosphere of the whole city.' The initiative is meant to enact the first steps of the city's recently completed Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan. 4:07 Calls for safety crackdown in downtown Victoria 'That plan will unfold over a number of years, as you know, but there's no doubt whatsoever that there's an urgency to certain aspects of it,' Mayor Marianne Alto said Wednesday. Story continues below advertisement The city's long-term plan envisions a larger enforcement role for bylaw officers, and Wednesday's announcement includes $1.9 million towards that goal. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'We're going to immediately put enough resources into that to hire a dozen new staff, people who will be able to execute their jobs more frequently, more intensively, more regularly throughout the downtown,' Alto said. The plan also includes $1.35 million to hire another nine police officers to focus on the downtown core, including Pandora and Princess avenues, which have been the epicentre of addiction and homelessness in the city. The city is also matching about a quarter million dollars in provincial funding to the C-STEP program aimed at tackling non-violent crime. The plan includes a $390,000 boost to Victoria's public works budget to address the 'huge task' of street cleaning, along with $4.86 million to repair and rehabilitate Pandora and Princess avenues. It also includes more than $3 million for 'temporary' housing solutions to fill the gap while the province works on more permanent facilities. 2:10 Victoria business association calls for safety in downtown core 'We do know that if we don't step in, at least on a temporary basis for a couple of years, and create some destinations for these folks, they're still just going to languish where they are,' Alto said. Story continues below advertisement Alto said the city has committed to not raising property taxes to enact the plan and will instead shift money from existing programs and services. That includes postponing some planned upgrades to Royal Athletic Park and the Centennial Square revitalization project and the use of millions from various city reserve funds. City council is expected to ratify the safety and well-being plan on Thursday, after it was approved in principle last month. 'We must do this, and I think the fact that I've been able to stand before you and tell you not just what we're going to do, but how we're going to pay for it is an indication that it will happen,' Alto said. 'There'll be many challenges along the way, but we will surmount them.'
Toronto Star
02-07-2025
- Toronto Star
Victoria mayor announces $10 million on diverted spending for community safety
VICTORIA - Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto says residents will see a difference in community safety within six months after announcing $10.35 million in funding for additional police and bylaw officers, temporary housing and the 'huge task' of cleaning up parts of the city. Alto's announcement comes after the city released a Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan last month on how it will tackle declining social disorder in the city set off by homelessness and addiction.
