Tensions run high, meeting runs late as Richmond council mulls supervised consumption site

Hundreds of people gathered outside chanting while dozens packed inside Richmond City Hall Monday night to speak out against a motion to consider a supervised drug consumption site in the city.

Tensions ran high as city council started hearing from a list of 120 people who had signed up to speak for and against the motion, some shouting or even crying as they vented frustrations and fears, many with a strong belief that a supervised consumption site would have a negative impact on their neighbourhoods.

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Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie tried to put a lid on the loud chanting as people packed into chambers, where it was standing room only.

Brodie angrily snapped that the meeting was not a carnival or theatre.

“I can tell you that I’ve been doing this since the mid-nineties and that is the first time I’ve had that kind of a reaction here in the city council. It is not going to happen!”

While the crowd was overwhelmingly in opposition to the motion, there was a handful of speakers in favour of considering a safe consumption site for Richmond, including the chair of the Richmond School Board.

Debbie Tablotney shared that her son died from the unregulated toxic drug supply.

“If he could have tested the drugs he used that night, or he was able to drop by the hospital on his way home from work to use the drugs he was so badly craving, he might still be alive today,” she told council.

Speaker Dave Byres countered some of the arguments against a supervised consumption site, insisting it would not promote drug use or attract those who use drugs from outside the city.

“People who use drugs are equally deserving of our time and our care, our compassion,” he told council, adding that drug users are people, too. “They have been painted as dangerous, they have been painted as criminals and harmful people to our community.”

The motion would not directly lead to a supervised drug consumption site being built, it would just open up the discussion.

The list of speakers is set to continue Tuesday night before Richmond city council votes on the motion, which asks staff to explore the benefits and challenges of implementing the site.