YOUTH DRUG CENTRE EMPTY, UNLICENSED

Like an episode out of Fawlty Towers, a drug treatment facility in Terrace
is sitting fully staffed, 24 hours a day, with no patients.

"Since April 1, this facility has been staffed and working seven days a
week, 24 hours a day, with no clients," Liberal MLA Colin Hansen said last
week in the legislature.

"They do not have their licence to operate."

"I'm wondering if the minister could tell us how we wind up getting into a
situation where a contract is awarded for $875,000, a facility is purchased,
it's fully staffed and yet they're not in a position to provide any care or
any treatment?"

Children's Minister Gretchen Brewin told Hansen an interim operating licence
for two of the six beds was issued June 20 and a full licence is expected on
July 19.

"No youth have been admitted to the beds as community members continue to
have difficulty with the location of this facility," said Brewin. "There are
some pickets around the outside of the facility."

Waiting lists for youth drug treatment are up to six months long.