Kitchener council asks province to reverse CTS site closure [Video]

Kitchener city council is joining the fight to keep safe drug consumption sites open.

Council passed a motion, brought forward by councillor Debbie Chapman, calling on the Ford government to reverse its decision to close ten Consumption Treatment Services (CTS) facilities across the province, including the Kitchener location on 150 Duke Street.

As an alternative, the province introduced Homeless and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs, which offer similar supports without the safe consumption services CTS sites provide.

The move from Kitchener council comes less than a week after Region of Waterloo council passed a similar motion calling on the province to reconsider CTS closures.

“This is a healthcare issue and we need to recognize that,” Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic said during Monday’s council meeting.

Monday’s marathon meeting stretched past 1 a.m., with 24 delegates showing support for the motion.

Samantha De Dieu was one of the 24 delegates, urging council …