METHADONE BATTLE CONTINUES AT CITY HALL

Discussion With Clinic Will Continue

OSHAWA - The battle against a local methadone clinic's relocation raged on
last week in spite of the clinic's entrenchment in its new downtown home.

In an effort to make sure the City is not faced with a similar fight in the
future, Oshawa councillors made plans to change the way development is done
downtown and how methadone clinics are dealt with in this city.

Councillors also directed the City's lawyer to propose a meeting with the
Oshawa clinic's representatives to continue to explore relocation options.

"We don't want to fight anymore," said Councillor Louise Parkes, one of
council's most vocal opponents of the clinic's relocation. "But, the
(City-commissioned) consultants' report identified that a less high-profile
location would be better for the City and would protect patient privacy."

As a part of the motion passed last Monday, City staff have also been asked
to prepare a bylaw to license methadone clinics in Oshawa, addressing
issues like size, location, and operation.

And, council is requesting the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons,
and the provincial and federal governments prepare regulations for the
clinics, including the number of patients, necessary amenities, appropriate
hours of operation and location.

Currently the college has a set of operational guidelines, but methadone
clinics are unregulated.

Mayor Nancy Diamond suggested some members of council simply don't know
when to give up on a losing battle.

First Step Medical Clinic had been operating just outside Oshawa's central
business district for five years before attempting to relocate to a
downtown location last year.

Its plans met with a barrage of resistance from several City councillors
and local business owners who claimed the downtown was not an appropriate
location because methadone clinics bring with them a host of problems.
Council passed an interim-control bylaw, effectively halting the move, but
that was struck down by the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB).

Although the clinic moved into its new home on Simcoe Street just north of
Athol Street last November, Oshawa council is still awaiting word on
whether an appeal of the OMB decision will be heard. That word is expected
to come Friday.

As a part of the interim-control bylaw, the City commissioned a study on
whether downtowns are appropriate locations for methadone clinics.

A draft summary of the study was released at the end of February and it
claimed concerns with the clinic are largely based on a perceived impact,
not in reality.

The summary indicated clinics need downtown locations due to accessibility
and there is little or no empirical evidence to suggest any sustained
negative economic impact from methadone clinics on local businesses.

The study also suggested a location off downtown's main streets might be
more appropriate, although if the City wants it to move now, it may have to
pay for the renovation and relocation costs already incurred by the clinic.

The motion passed last Monday directs staff to co-ordinate all City actions
regarding downtown Oshawa and develop a protocol to inform City council,
committees, and downtown stakeholder organizations of any initiatives or
developments, negative or positive, that may impact the downtown.

It also sends City staff back to complete a review of downtown zoning,
suggest changes that will direct more positive uses on main streets and
gateways and develop urban design guidelines to ensure high-quality new
development.

Mayor Diamond said the motion "pre-empted the results" of the consultant's
final report, expected within weeks, but Coun. Parkes said councillors
already have a good idea what it will say.

"It's our intention to be proactive, and this goes beyond methadone. We
need to manage downtown development in an appropriate way...we have to have
effective staff communication for a number of situations downtown, positive
and negative," added Coun. Parkes. "We want to encourage a higher quality
of development... this is about more than just methadone, it's about
creating a people-friendly downtown."