Mayoral candidate Bokhari takes safe consumption stance

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This article was published 28/08/2022 (849 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A mayoral candidate is promising to open safe injection sites in Winnipeg — whether or not the province helps — if she’s elected.

Rana Bokhari said she believes the facilities, which allow people to consume illegal drugs with medical supervision, are needed as soon as possible to help combat an addictions crisis in the city. Supporters have long credited such facilities for saving lives, by preventing accidental overdoses and helping connect drug users to social services.

“I hope the province sees the benefit of this (and helps fund it). If not, we can engage with the federal government, get the exemption we need and proceed in that way. I’m committing to this,” Bokhari said Monday.

While the Manitoba government has jurisdiction over health and addictions treatment, it has rejected calls to add or fund such controversial hubs, which are also known as safe drug consumption or supervised drug consumption sites.

However, organizations can apply to the federal government directly to set them up without provincial approval.

Bokhari said it makes sense for the city.

“Winnipeg has to step up because, at the end of the day, it’s our police service that’s being called (to provide) Narcan for the drug (opioid) overdoses. It’s our paramedics who are picking up… individuals who have (overdosed) on the street,” she said.

In both a news release and an interview, Bokhari linked the increase in drug addiction to increased property and violent crime, arguing it is “common sense” a safe injection site would help reduce crime as well.

“If Winnipeggers want their streets safe, if Winnipeggers want their property crime to decrease, if Winnipeggers want to be able to go into the bus shelters safely, then we are going to have to proceed with a safe injection site with compassion and with dignity,” she said.

The candidate said it would be optimal for a community group that serves those coping with addictions to run a Winnipeg safe consumption site, perhaps initially beginning with a mobile pop-up facility that could reach folks in multiple locations.

Bokhari expects the City of Winnipeg could support it with funding and, possibly, provide Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service staff to help assist with operations.

As of 2020, there were 39 supervised consumption sites operating in Canada, including facilities in Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Ottawa.

Bokhari is one of 14 registered candidates seeking the mayor’s chair. Mayor Brian Bowman is not seeking a third term.

Winnipeggers elect their next mayor and city council Oct. 26.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga