Methadone clinics may soon be allowed to open in Windsor without specifically telling neighbours or the city of its intent. The city is being forced to revise its bylaw which prohibited methadone clinics from opening in certain areas. Councillor Chris Holt doesn't think methadone clinics will start popping up in neighbourhoods. "We had to go ahead and actually methadone clinics into the broader category of medical clinics, which don't require public consultation, which don't require certain setbacks from residential areas," Holt says. Unfortunately, he says, the city's hands are tied. "We can actually tackle these things in-house. We can look after everybody's sort of point of view and protect everybody through different planning practices without really losing the focus on human rights," he says. The change comes after the Human Rights Commission received two complaints saying Windsor's bylaw discriminated against the disabled, which includes those with addictions. "The stigma on these people who are seeking treatment is already high," he says. "At the end of the day this is a health issue and we really do need to take care of our residents, take care of our citizens and help them seek treatment."
City council will make a final decision on the bylaw update at a future meeting.