Province issues call for overdose prevention site proposals, as Greens slam delay

The P.E.I. authorities has issued a request for proposals for the operation of an overdose prevention website within the Charlottetown space, an motion Inexperienced MLAs say is lengthy overdue.

Opposition Chief Peter Bevan-Baker questioned the well being minister throughout query interval Wednesday, asking why the method has taken so lengthy. The minister made a commitment to such a site within the winter of 2021, and the federal authorities gave approval to open one roughly a 12 months in the past.

“All this minister has been capable of accomplish within the final 12 months is to create a committee,” Bevan-Baker mentioned. “When will an overdose safety website be opening in order that Islanders dwelling on the streets and who could also be affected by addictions have a spot to assist maintain them alive?”

“All jurisdictions have approval to maneuver ahead with pressing public well being wants websites or overdose prevention websites,” Well being Minister Ernie Hudson replied. “We’re transferring forward, and I feel that the RFP [request for proposals] speaks volumes of our dedication for this.”

Bevan-Baker disagreed. He mentioned he is misplaced all confidence within the King authorities’s strategy to addressing psychological well being and addictions within the province, including that an RFP is not a barometer of how sturdy the federal government’s dedication is.

“It is a whisper, if that,” Bevan-Baker instructed CBC Information. “That is one thing which ought to have been completed way back… The RFP isn’t any indication or certainty that we’re ever going to get this.”

‘Course of that we’ve to undergo’

In line with the request for proposals, services at the site could include things like supervised consumption, drug-checking and a capability to reply to any overdoses. 

There is a staffing requirement of 4 folks at any given time, three of whom have to be current on the website. The service can be seven days per week with “constant hours for weekdays and weekends,” the request for proposals says.

Hudson instructed CBC Information the delay is as a result of many ongoing initiatives that his division is balancing, in addition to its want to make certain the province’s hurt discount co-ordinator was employed first. 

That place was crammed in March of this 12 months.

“There are steps that must be taken… As a lot as any of us could wish to assume that it will happen with the snap of a finger, it doesn’t,” Hudson mentioned.

“There’s course of that we’ve to undergo and we’re going by that course of and doing that as quickly as potential.”

The precise location of the location in Charlottetown is unknown, however Hudson mentioned it’s going to open someday in 2023. 

So far as the group is anxious, I think they share my disappointment.— Peter Bevan-Baker

“This is among the steps that we’re taking. There’s different initiatives with regard to psychological well being and addictions too,” Hudson mentioned. “This isn’t a standalone initiative; it is half of a complete bundle to offer these providers to Islanders.”

Bevan-Baker mentioned he anticipated the overdose prevention website to be open by this level, saying Prince Edward Islanders have waited lengthy sufficient for “crucial” providers equivalent to this.

“So far as the group is anxious, I think they share my disappointment and frustration that this has taken so lengthy,” he mentioned. “Why this province, and this authorities particularly, has taken so lengthy to get thus far — which isn’t even the start — is basically unforgivable.”