Most respondents oppose Cambridge consumption and treatment services site, survey shows

As Cambridge city council meets Tuesday night to discuss two locations it is considering for a consumption and treatment services site, a survey carried out by the city show the majority of respondents don't want it at either location.

City staff are recommending either 15 Easton St. or 8 Oxford St. be considered for a future consumption and treatment services site, and have asked council to move forward to consult with the community. The two locations were picked from 25 that fit the criteria as was laid out by the province's Ministry of Health.

Approximately 800 people took part in the survey which was intended to reach people who live nearby, service providers, the general public and potential clients of the consumption and treatment services site.

"As elected officials our job is to think very critically and carefully about these complex social issues and do the best we can to represent the will of our constituents, but also follow established science, follow law follow morality, follow ethics and those also factor and very importantly as well," said Cambridge Ward 7 Coun. Scott Hamilton.

Only four people who replied self-identified as being potential consumption and treatment services site clients, said Hamilton.

Hamilton described the survey as another small but important step in the process toward the city choosing a location. He said another will be having an operator come forward who wants to set up the consumption and treatment services (CTS) site. 

"The key component in any city site is that you need an operator to come forward, and that operator has to abide by all the provincial guidelines," said Hamilton.

"They're essentially the ones providing the treatment and the wraparound services that are so essential to a CTS site. You can't have a CTS site without the 'T,' which is the treatment," said Hamilton.

The special Cambridge council meeting is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.