New Westminster City Council just approved an 18 month extension to the city's safe injection site at 40 Begbie Street – this against some considerable opposition.

According to Mayor Patrick Johnstone, the city recieved 52 pieces of correspondence on this issue – half for and half against.

Known as the Starship Health Contact Centre, it was set up 3 years ago to help save lives among those suffering from drug addiction and susceptible to overdose and drug poisoning. 

There has been push back from local businesses, organizations and residents...of particular concern is the congregation of users outside the site...which includes those coming and going, but also those who inhale their substances. They cannot do so inside the centre as there is inadequate ventilation, but they can enter for monitoring after using. The City is looking for an appropriate site, thus the need for the extension of the site's use. Times have changed, and now 80% of drug users inhale rather than inject their drugs.

While the Temporary Use Permit passed in Council, there was considerable discussion about the accompanying Good Neighbours Agreement that the three partners in this centre would have to adhere to. The three partners are the City of New Westminster, the Fraser Health Authority, and the Purpose Society, the non-profit organization that administers the program.

Not surprisingly, the main issues of debate about this agreement were about trying to reduce or eliminate the congregating of people outside the Health Contact Site and also the ability of the City to revoke the permit with 30 days notice if there were on-going, serious issues. 

To conclude... With some revisions, and the dumping of the clause about working to reduce people congregating at the site, the Good Neighbours agreement and Temporary Use Permit were passed.