Residents opposed to safe consumption site in Richmond fill council chambers
CTV
Chants opposing a proposed supervised consumption site in Richmond broke out during Monday's city council meeting.
Chants opposing a proposed supervised consumption site in Richmond broke out during Monday's city council meeting.
The chambers were filled with hundreds of residents voicing their concerns over council voting to ask staff to "gauge the potential benefits and challenges of implementing a drug consumption site" in the city.
The review is meant to consider the impact to public safety, health-care costs and community perceptions.
The frustration was shared by hundreds of residents who moved from the entrance of city hall to the council chambers where Mayor Malcolm Brodie was forced to address the heckling.
“Excuse me. I thought we got it straight. There aren’t going to be any demonstrations here,” Brodie said during the meeting.
"I can tell you it will not happen again. If you want to be part of this discussion and let off this decision, then you will respect the process. This is not some kind of a theatre or carnival … this is very solemn occasion where we are making important decisions discussions and decisions for the city."
Ahead of Monday's meeting, thousands of people signed a petition opposing the proposed safe consumption site.
