Overview

• On July 28, Coun. Ian Thorpe introduced a motion asking council to formally request Island Health close the supervised consumption site on Albert Street beside city hall.
• Mayor Leonard Krog said he expects council to debate and then defer the motion to allow expert testimony before making a final decision.
• Council recently rejected a $412,000 proposal to erect a 1.8-metre fence aimed at shielding city hall from violence and disorder tied to the site.
• Krog acknowledged the site “unquestionably saves lives” but said the motion reflects growing resident frustration and doubts about the facility’s local impact.
• The Albert Street site provides witnessed injection and inhalation services with rapid medical response, highlighting the tension between harm reduction goals and community safety concerns.