METHADONE DISCUSSIONS EXTENDED BY CITY

Councillor Wants Clinic To Move To Different Location

OSHAWA - A study commissioned by the City to review methadone clinics and
whether they are appropriate downtown will broaden its scope by including a
look at more clinics and a public meeting where all Oshawa residents can
have their say.

Originally expected to be complete by Nov. 30, consultant Scott Burns
addressed council Tuesday asking for an extension, a change to the number
of clinics the study would be reviewing, and up to an additional $10,000 to
be added to the study's $50,000 price tag. He received approval from
council on all three requests and will now have until the end of February
to complete his study.

The study stems from the City's interim control bylaw blocking the move of
King Street's First Step Medical Clinic, which provides methadone
maintenance therapy to local addicts, to a downtown location on Simcoe
Street just north of Athol Street.

The bylaw was struck down by the Ontario Municipal Board this summer, but
that decision is being appealed by the City.

Five clinics (Kingston, Kitchener, Barrie, Richmond Hill and Lindsay) were
to be compared to the Oshawa situation. However, since consultants
discovered three out of the five are run by the same management group they
have asked to include clinics in Orillia and two others run by First Step
in Scarborough and Hamilton, brought to their attention by a story in
'Oshawa This Week.'

"These visits can be extremely informative," said Mr. Burns.

Although not supported by the remainder of council, Councillor Louise
Parkes argued Hamilton's size and population are not comparable to Oshawa's
and asked that it not be a part of the study. She also suggested a Brampton
clinic be included because of its similarity to the Oshawa situation.

Mr. Burns requested the time-extension since he will not be able to meet
with the Downtown Board of Management and other downtown residents and
stakeholders until a meeting slated for Dec. 3.

He asked for an extension until the end of the year, but Councillor Mike
Nicholson called for a meeting with residents outside the downtown core and
suggested even more time be granted to hold that forum.

"I think there are a lot of people outside the downtown who would like the
opportunity to be a part of a public meeting that any citizen of Oshawa can
attend," he said. "There's a lot of people with something to say on this."