Calgary committee votes down motion to support drug site closure, seeks clarity

Calgary's executive committee narrowly voted down a motion that would have supported the provincial plan to close the Safeworks supervised consumption site and instead asked for clearer details; the province announced plans to replace the site with a treatment program and has not released full details.

Calgary's executive committee narrowly voted down a motion that would have supported the closure of the city's only supervised consumption site, Safeworks at the Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre. The motion, moved by Ward 14 Coun. Landon Johnston, would have also committed the city to work with the province on a transition plan and to send the matter to city council. The Alberta government announced in December it plans to close Safeworks this year and replace it with a treatment program; Recovery Alberta has not provided full details about that program. Supporters and opponents disagree about local impacts: some councillors and business owners say the site affects safety and commerce, while health professionals and advocates say the site helps reduce deaths from drug toxicity. Key details: - The executive committee voted narrowly against moving Johnston’s motion to council. - The proposed motion would have expressed support for the province’s decision and committed to work on a transition plan. - Alberta announced plans to close the Safeworks supervised consumption site and to offer a treatment program in its place; details of the replacement were not provided by Recovery Alberta. - The Safeworks site provides a medically supervised space intended to reduce deaths from drug toxicity. - Mayor Jeromy Farkas voted against the motion, citing unclear wording and a lack of time to review recent amendments. Summary: The committee’s decision leaves the issue unsettled at the municipal level and maintains distance from a definitive city position. Whether council will consider a revised motion or receive more information from the province is undetermined at this time.