Drug consumption sites survey released, public meeting dates set by region

People who want to let the Region of Waterloo know how they feel about drug consumption and treatment services sites can now fill out an online survey or attend a public meeting.

There are currently three locations in Kitchener and one location in Cambridge being considered to be sites for consumption and treatment services. That's a new phrase for what was formerly referred to as supervised consumption sites.

The sites include one in Cambridge at150 Main St. andthree in Kitchener at 115 Water St. N., 150 Duke St. W., and 105 Victoria St. N., which is currently a vacant lot at the corner of Weber Street and Victoria Street.

The survey was posted to the region's website and asks people which location they want to leave comments about. The survey can be done more than once if a person wants to comment on more than one location.

They survey, which is anonymous, asks about the benefits of a location, concerns a person has about a site and suggestions on how concerns could be addressed if the location is chosen.

ICA Associates, a firm in Toronto, is conducting the public consultations for the region.

Four dates have been set aside for public meetings on the possible sites:

• Cambridge sessions, Jan. 31 and Feb. 4 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 63 Grand Ave. N.
• Kitchener sessions, Feb. 5 and Feb. 7 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at St. Louis Kitchener Main Campus, 80 Young St.

Two additional meeting dates have been set for people who live or have businesses within 250 metres of sites being considered. Those are Jan. 29 in Cambridge and Jan. 30 in Kitchener by invite only.

Registration is required for all consultation sessions.

The public consultations come after regional councillors voted at the community services committee to proceed with getting input on the four possible sites.

The three regional councillors who represent Cambridge: Helen Jowett, Karl Kiefer and Cambridge Mayor Kathryn McGarry voted against proceeding with public consultations at the Jan. 8 meeting because they said the location at 150 Main St. in Cambridge goes against an interim bylaw which prohibits such sites in the Galt core.

That bylaw is set to expire this April but McGarry has said council may vote to extend it to 2020.