When Windsor's city councillor for Ward 3 introduces his motion to reconsider the location of a planned safe consumption site downtown, he may hear protesters voicing their support for the spot outside.
A rally is planned for 3:15 p.m. on Monday at City Hall. City councillors start their meeting at 4 p.m.
Since word of the motion became widely known, those in favour of the site have been very vocal.
Twenty-seven faith leaders from across Essex County have signed an open letter.
"We believe that this is a life-saving service and should not be delayed for any reason," read the letter released over the weekend. "Naloxone was distributed to many of our congregations last year by the health unit. We read of ever-growing numbers of overdoses, deaths, and public health warnings, and we bear witness to the damage done by drug overdoses at funerals and prayers."
"We remind you that this Consumption and Treatment site has already been approved democratically," the letter continued.
The Windsor Essex County Health Unit issued its statement reminding councillors its consultations with the community involved over 3,000 interactions with neighbourhood residents, businesses, and stakeholders.
The Wellcome Centre Shelter for Women posted a statement on Facebook reading, "118 days ago we, as an agency and community, experienced our first on-site accidental drug poisoning death, 600 meters from the SIS location, under construction at the time. Today, staff had tears in their eyes, anger in their shaky voices, and a sense of resignation we don't often feel."
Councillor Renaldo Agostino said he supports a safe consumption site but believes the location is problematic for businesses nearby.
His motion calls on his council colleagues to rescind its approval of the site at 101 Wyandotte Street East and work with the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit on "short-term and long-term options," including a possible location in the current Homelessness and Housing Help Hub at Windsor Water World or a mobile delivery model.
Currently, the health unit anticipates approval from Health Canada and the Ministry of Health for the location. Municipal approval of the site is crucial to the application process, and the health unit hopes to have the safe consumption site open in March.