MUNICIPAL BOARD HEARS DEBATE ON METHADONE CLINIC

Hearing Wraps Up Friday, Decision To Come Later

OSHAWA - An Ontario Municipal Board hearing opened Monday into the case of
a downtown methadone clinic, which has been prevented from setting up in a
new location by a municipal temporary control bylaw.

On the same day, just hours later, City council finally approved a
consultant to determine whether clinics for the treatment of
opiate-dependant or narcotic-dependant people are appropriate uses in the
central business district. The study came about after council in February
passed the interim control bylaw, which has frozen the building permit for
the clinic's new location on Simcoe Street South.

Lawyer Jane Pepino, representing Loralgia Management Ltd., has presented
evidence from three witnesses to OMB members J.A. Smout and J. R. Bozma.
Loralgia appealed the control bylaw to the OMB which has expedited the
hearing. The City has hired lawyer Stanley Makush to defend council's
action. He's expected to call witnesses, including a criminologist,
beginning Wednesday.

On Monday night, council approved hiring the Planning Partnership to
conduct the required study, the second choice of staff for the job. An
outside consultant was required when planning staff members found they
didn't have the time to complete the study.

The consultant choice came following a debate which centred on the actions
of Councillor Louise Parkes, who contacted another consulting firm that bid
on the study but which was ranked fourth by staff. She said she contacted
them because of what she called their excellent reputation and asked if
they'd lower their estimate to fit the $50,000 cap set by council. Several
councillors said her interference in the process wasn't proper.

The study will cost $50,000 while the cost of the lawyer to handle the OMB
hearing is "a couple of hundred thousand dollars," according to Mayor Nancy
Diamond. The First Step Clinic, located for five years on King Street West,
just blocks from the new proposed location, treats people who are addicted
to opiates. Between 50 to 110 patients visit the clinic a day. Under the
care of doctors and supervision of pharmacists, they are prescribed
methadone, another opiate, which doesn't produce a high and reduces
cravings for other opiates and helps people return to their normal lives,
said Dr. Michael Semoff, the founder and owner of the clinic. Most patients
are addicted to prescription drugs, such as pain killers, while about five
per cent are hooked on street drugs, such as heroin, he said.

The clinic needs a larger space to operate and picked the old National
Trust building on Simcoe after being assured by the City the zoning was
appropriate for a clinic, said Fred Larusso, Loralgia owner and owner of
the Simcoe Street building. Before the clinic could open and just days
before a building permit was to be issued, council slapped the control
bylaw on the building after hearing from local residents and businesses
about their concerns with having the clinic in the downtown.

On Thursday, the OMB will hear from several clinic patients in a private
session and then from downtown residents and business people. The hearing
is to wrap up Friday.

A decision will be issued by the board members at a later date.