The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce is asking what’s next following a ten-day crackdown by police on drugs. In late June, police did a week-and-a-half sweep on open drug use and trafficking downtown. Now the Winnipeg Chamber has released a statement saying it supports the effort by police to improve safety and security, but it also says people are saying enough is enough. “The question that must be addressed now is what happens after the 10 days of enforcement action. our members have been clear that downtown safety cannot depend on short-term action, but [must have] strategic, visible and sustained efforts,” said the Chamber. Even though his business is partially shielded by the police station, EPH Apparel owner Andrew Parkes says they’re not immune to what some people are doing downtown. “They’re engaging in activities that I would say are not usually what you’d like to see in public spaces — so drinking, drug use, that kind of stuff,” said Parkes. Parkes says a week and a half of enforcement is not enough. “Something needs to be done at the very least to let people know that it’s, you know, not going to fly to be doing it in front of children, in front of businesses, in shared public spaces,” said Parkes. Mayor Scott Gillingham said earlier this month he would like to see the enforcement continue. “A lot of people have expressed their appreciation for the Winnipeg police service and the crackdown on open illegal drug use,” said Gillingham on July 15. The police have not yet released statistics from the ten-day blitz, and say they’re speaking with social agencies before announcing what happens next. Some of those groups raised concerns the crackdown negatively impacted vulnerable people struggling with addictions and homelessness. Nick Van Seggelen owns Bodegoes in The Exchange. He noticed a bit of a change in the area since people stayed home during the pandemic. “Darkness can’t exist when there is light, when there’s people around they are the light,” said Van Seggelen. He believes enforcement is just one piece of the puzzle to clean things up. “Obviously the policing and the punishment, if it is warranted — and if it needs to go into the social side of things to help with addiction and whatever else comes with it,” said Van Seggelen.
