Council defeats motion restricting where city-funded agencies can distribute harm-reduction kits

Council defeats motion restricting where city-funded agencies can distribute harm-reduction kits

A recent political push by Coun. Susan Stevenson to restrict where municipally funded agencies can distribute harm-reduction kits for smoking or inhaling drugs has been decisively defeated by council.

On Tuesday, Stevenson said she believes the distribution of harm-reduction kits in Old East Village, Midtown and downtown London is counterproductive to efforts by London police to reduce public drug use in those same areas.

“This isn’t about not allowing people to have access; it’s about stopping the taxpayer-funded services that are working against each other in a particular area,” she told colleagues on the committee.

Coun. Steve Hillier seconded her motion.

City staff confirmed that after a federally funded encampment program ended March 31, there are no other contracts with front-line service providers that fund the procurement or distribution of harm-reduction kits.

Earlier this month, the community and protective services committee was told that outreach workers with London Cares had voluntarily stopped handing out harm-reduction kits along Dundas Street through the city’s core business districts.

“It’s not necessary because we’re not doing it,” Coun. Sam Trosow said of Stevenson’s motion. “But we’re going to do it anyway because somebody wants to make a point? I really hope people don’t support this.”

Coun. David Ferreira was also blunt in his opposition.

“This motion is just going to confuse, and this motion is going to get us further away from actually seeing a real, tangible change for the good,” he said.

The motion was defeated 13-2, with Stevenson and Hillier voting in favour.