Calgary criticizes Alberta government for not addressing the future of drug-use

Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek is locked in a dispute with the Alberta government regarding the city's sole supervised drug-use site, alleging that the province has failed to take timely action on its future.

In a letter addressed to Premier Danielle Smith, Gondek expressed frustration over the government's unfulfilled promises, stating that the ongoing delays are causing "concern and distress."
"The provincial government's failure to follow through on its commitments remains a significant concern," Gondek wrote. The future of the Sheldon Chumir Supervised Consumption Site has been under discussion since the previous premier, Jason Kenney, announced in 2022 plans to close the facility. At that time, the government indicated it would replace the site with two new facilities in "more suitable locations." However, the Sheldon Chumir site remains open, and no closure plans have been communicated by the province. Alberta Addictions Minister Dan Williams remarked on Thursday that he is not interested in establishing additional safe consumption sites. The provincial government is advocating for a recovery-focused strategy to address the drug toxicity crisis and has expressed opposition to the existence of safe consumption sites. "I'm not looking to relocate the Sheldon Chumir to another community," Williams told reporters. "I want to pursue a different approach, one that does not enable addiction." The facility, located within the Sheldon Chumir Health Centre and known as the Safeworks site, offers a safe and hygienic environment for drug use under medical supervision in downtown Calgary. This standoff traces back to October when Williams requested that the city vote on whether to move forward with an alternative plan for the site. The city chose not to take an official stance. Both Gondek and several city councillors contend that the matter exceeds Calgary's authority, as health issues fall under provincial jurisdiction. In response, Williams has stated that it is the city's duty to address economic development, public safety, and zoning concerns, suggesting that city leaders are more focused on political positioning ahead of upcoming municipal elections. In her letter, Gondek proposed establishing a joint working group between the two levels of government, but Williams has not confirmed whether the province will accept this invitation.

"My position has remained unchanged since I reached out in October," he stated. The province has encouraged other municipalities to undertake similar votes. City councillors in Red Deer, Alberta, voted last year to request that the province terminate its overdose prevention site. Like Calgary, Red Deer lacks the ability to withdraw funding or manage the site independently.

In response to Red Deer's request, the province announced in September that it would not renew funding for the site, instead reallocating public resources to services focused on addiction recovery. Aaron Brown, a regular user of the safe consumption site, applied for an injunction last year to keep the site operational, claiming that its closure would deprive him and other drug users of critical medical care. However, a Court of King's Bench judge denied the injunction request on Wednesday, meaning the site is set to close in the coming days. An appeal regarding the decision will be heard in April by the Alberta Court of Appeal.

Williams also indicated that the province will cease funding for the Red Deer site after March 31 and mentioned that the construction of detox beds in the area is nearing completion. "This is a comprehensive suite of recovery-centered, life-affirming care that will not promote addiction," he affirmed.
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