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MLA Neudorf: Shutting down Lethbridge SCS “not the solution”

The United Conservative MLA for Lethbridge East says he’s been hearing from both sides when it comes to the debate on the city’s supervised consumption site (SCS).

The provincial government has a review taking place on all SCS facilities in Alberta.

Nathan Neudorf telling MyLethbridgeNow.com shutting the one down in Lethbridge, would not address the main need which is helping people get off the cycle of addiction. “As long as we’re addressing the end goal of trying to move people from a drug addiction to not being addicted to those drugs, that’s got to be the end goal. Otherwise we have what we have now which is sort of that revolving door because we are missing that element to helping people get off these additive substances.”

Neudorf says the UCP is looking for solutions to get everyone working together to tackle the overall problem. He does stress, however more needs to be done.

“That’s the primary focus. How that is done will involve all four legs of a drug treatment strategy which includes prevention, harm reduction (SCS) , enforcement, and treatment,” says Neudorf.

Neudorf says this is certainly a polarizing issue locally. “When I’ve spoken to the different ministers, they absolutely understand the priorities for Lethbridge, particularly with the supportive housing and how crucial that is.”

The United Conservative government is reviewing all current and proposed SCS locations over the next month. A review panel will be in Lethbridge September 4th and 5th at the Coast Hotel. The UCP government has put on hold an $11.2 million supportive housing facility the former NDP government promised prior to the last Alberta election as it also conducts a fiscal review.

Neudorf says shutting down supervised consumption services in Lethbridge doesn’t address the main issue. He believes we need a solution-based path, not reactive measures. “We do understand people’s frustrations, particularly the business community most impacted closest to the site.”

Patrick Siedlecki
Patrick Siedlecki
Pat has been a mainstay in the CJOC News department from the time the station launched in 2007. He's been in the position of News Director since then and has been anchoring daily news casts as well as reporting and working behind the scenes. Community is important to him and keeping CJOC listeners and readers informed about what's happening across southern Alberta and beyond. Pat has been in radio broadcasting for the past 24 years, starting in Port Alberni on Vancouver Island in 1997 and then moving up island to Nanaimo for another few years before heading to Lethbridge in 2007. Pat grew up in the small Saskatchewan farming town of Foam Lake. After high school, he went to Western Academy Broadcasting College (WABC) in Saskatoon prior to moving to the island. Pat also spent several years broadcasting hockey in the BCHL as well as seven years as the radio voice of the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the WHL. Pat has been working at Cornerstone Funeral Home in Lethbridge as a Certified Life Celebrant and Funeral Assistant since 2016. News and sports have always been Pat's passion from the time he was a teenager and he's always been grateful to have had the opportunity to make that part of what's been a fun and long radio career!
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