Thread by @Tommy_Slick

This morning at the McDougall Centre we are hearing the findings of the provinces report on supervised consumption sites. The panel examined the negative aspects of the sites, including social disorder and economic disruptions to businesses. #yyc #scs

Some more details here in the meantime. 660citynews.com/2020/03/05/res…

I also walked around the Sheldon Chumir before heading into work this morning. There was about a dozen people outside, which is fairly typical in my experience. A few security guards wandering around as well.

Here is the press release. #yyc #ableg #scs

We have also received the more than 200-page full report.

Associate Minister Jason Luan says this was a fair and thorough report. He is deeply troubled by some of the results, says the sites have caused "chaos".

Justice minister Schweitzer says they are expanding things like drug treatment courts. Also the ministry will be taking aim at organized crime, to try and take drugs off the streets.

Schweitzer says the study is "eye opening". Very clearly not a fan of the sites.

Schweitzer brings up the incident in Lethbridge where a security officer was sprayed by a user's needle. That happened outside a SCS, there's literally no way to assume if the site didn't exist then that sort of thing wouldn't happen

The province engaged with over 19,000 Albertans during this process. Includes regular citizens, clients of the sites, business owners and other stakeholders. Almost 17,000 also took part in an online survey

Panel member Professor Geri Bemister-Williams says there was major concerns about the lack of consultation on the sites. Says the overdose reversal numbers are misleading, as naloxone was only needed in rare cases. Death rates increased around the sites.

Adds the sites were initially not intended for meth use, but that has become the emerging issue. Crime rates increased outside all the sites except Edmonton. Increased needle debris. Community members took security measures in their own hands.

The professor talks about staff giving out so-called "party packs" including clean needles and pipes. She speaks with deep disdain describing these "party packs"

Questions now, first one about overdose reversal. There's belief that many of these "reversals" were not actually overdoses. Professor was standoffish and would not answer if the people would have died or not

Luan is saying they have accomplished a lot through their investments but there needs to be a more coordinated fashion that has a better end goal. Committed to a "recovery oriented" system of care. SCS can be used, but needs to align

Rod Knecht, panel chair, says police have been taking a step back to allow people to get to the SCS. Says this creates an opening for drug dealers in the area.

Luan asked if they're prepared to close or move the sites. Says he is "wide open" for potential options. Says the NDP completely failed at helping people get better

Question for Schweitzer on police actions (or inaction). Says he was shocked to see that. Will be taking the report to police chiefs to ensure there's no "chaos".

Question about the Lethbridge site, and financial operations of ARCHES. Luan says there was financial irregularity. Sounds like there was some sort of fraud?

Auditors are investigating this situation. Luan cannot give many details as this is ongoing. Will just say "financial irregularity"

Question about less crime in Edmonton. Knecht says this is an outlier, can't really go into why this is the case. One reason could be that the SCS actually works as intended. Also could be apathy where people don't call police

Now why is there no immediate need for other sites? Knecht says there wasn't heavy evidence supporting them. Concern in Medicine Hat was that meth was a bigger issue. So they didn't need injection sites, I guess

I asked again about the overdose reversal numbers. The professor would not give me an answer on whether or not the people would have died if they did not have site access

Presser is now ended quickly.