METHADONE CLINIC UPSETS CENTRETOWN RESIDENTS

Councillor Diane Holmes Wants To Know If City Can Influence Site Decision

A methadone clinic designed to help recovering drug addicts has arrived in
Ottawa to the surprise of city councillors and local residents.

Centretown resident Shawn Dearn said a sign posted earlier this week at 401
Somerset St. W., near Bank Street, advertised the space as a soon-to-be
opened addictions clinic. But last night, the small sign had been taken down.

Diane Holmes, city councillor and chair of the health, recreation and
social services committee, said she was surprised when she heard this week
that a methadone clinic, used primarily to treat people addicted to heroin
and other opiates, was opening in her ward.

"If the zoning allows it and our health department isn't involved, then
it's not something that would come before the committee normally," she said.

"I'm going to try and find out if there's any way the city can have an
influence on it to be able to say yea or nay. But I don't know if the city
even has an ability to make any kind of comments on it."

The residential space above the clinic is an Ottawa Community Housing
development for seniors, run by the city. Ms. Homes said to her knowledge
the community housing wing was unaware a methadone clinic is being built
below them.

Mr. Dearn, a resident at the Strand Condominium building next door, said he
had no idea one had even been proposed.

"It's a concern to us because it has gone in without any community
consultation whatsoever," said the president of the condominium board.

"How did the City of Ottawa go and allow a methadone clinic to end up in
the ground level of a seniors residence and do it with no consultation?"