Williams Lake city council voted to go ahead on discussions with Interior Health about a safe consumption site in the community.
A lengthy discussion preceded the five-to-two decision, with mayor and council responding to some of the feedback they had received from the community.
Mayor Surinderpal Rathor was the lone member of council to change his vote after the issue was brought back in front of council as a result of a notice of motion while Coun. Scott Nelson was acting mayor.
Rathor said the only intention for their resolution was to enter into discussions with Interior Health and a safe injection site was never a done deal.
He then said he was voting with the community, after council received more than 200 written comments, though he noted Interior Health does not need permission from the city to develop a safe consumption site.
"I tell you I'm committed to listening to the community," he said, adding he was voting against his conscience as he went on the record voting against going ahead with discussions with Interior Health on a safe consumption site.
Coun. Angie Delainey reasserted her support to engage in discussions with Interior Health.
"It by no way means we are going to have a safe consumption site or to build a safe consumption site, it is just to have a discussion," said Delainey, noting she wants to learn more in order to make an informed decision.
She encouraged the community to come out and hear the information as well.
Coun. Sheila Boehm said she found the entire topic ironic.
"This is not a council decision," she said, but added she would not turn down a meeting with Interior Health and said the rate of deaths associated with illicit drugs in B.C. rose to nearly seven per day in 2023.
Coun. Jazmyn Lyons noted the controversy which the topic has generated is premature prior to even having any discussions with Interior Health.
"After reading the over 100 emails against the safe consumption site, one thing was made very, very clear — we have to be better in our information about what these sites are," she said.
Lyons said dozens of emails said the sites give away free drugs, which she said they do not. Lyons also said engaging in conversations with Interior Health could help council have input on how a site could look and said the studies show the sites help reduce many of the concerns people brought forward.
"The user does not take the needle and leave, the needle is immediately disposed of so they're not ending up in our parks they're not ending up on our roads," she said, adding they help prevent many hospitalizations associated with drug use as well.
"I had someone overdose recently five feet from my door while a family was coming in to play Pokemon on a Sunday. I don't want to see that, they don't want to see that. Something like this could have prevented that," said Lyons.
Coun. Joan Flaspohler said the debate around the issue is harming the community.
"Information you're getting sometimes isn't always that accurate, because it's about politics, it's not about community health and well-being, and I want to make a vote that's about community health and well-being," she said.
Flaspohler then went on to debunk some of the information sent from members of the public using an article from the Canadian Journal of Public Health, a peer-reviewed journal, and information from the Canadian Association of Nurses.
Coun Michael Moses said the community needs services on all levels, from prevention to safe consumption to addictions treatment.
"We're working so hard to get the community the services that we need," he said. "I beg that everyone remember that those that we are trying to help are real people."
Coun. Scott Nelson, again restated his opposition to any discussion with Interior Health related to a safe consumption site.
"The reason I brought this back for discussion is I think you've got this backwards. You don't go and discuss it with Interior Health, I think you discuss it with the community first of all," he said, noting he feels his colleagues' minds are made up.
He said he supports recovery and treatment but does not want to go ahead with discussion of a safe injection site without hearing support for it from the community.
After the vote was recorded, Rathor emphasized the decision only means the city will enter into a dialogue with Interior Health.
He said the actual decision of whether or not a safe consumption site would come to Williams Lake is really up to Interior Health and the city does not contribute directly in funds.
