The NDP government attempted to manipulate the public consultation process for a drug use site slated for a small downtown neighborhood off of Logan Avenue- but got big pushback and plenty of questions they don't want to answer. We have a play-by-play recap of the meeting that's a real eye opener about the desperation of the "harm reduction" lobby to give hard-core addicts a place to get high.

Part 1 of Episode 58 takes a few moments to note the recent passing of four people who made their mark on Winnipeg. Marty Gold provides personal memories of 1960's Blue Bomber All Star pass catcher Dr. Ken Nielsen, former Free Press education reporter Nick Martin, retired lawyer and city councillor Moishe Kaufman, and Jewish community stalwart Ruthie Gale.

11.48 Part 2- The theme of episode 58 is based on a recent comment from Marion Willis of St. Boniface Street Links:

“We normalized bike theft, we normalized homelessness, we normalized drug use, we’ve normalized encampment living — we normalized it all."

A consequence of it is a collapse of public safety in the inner city, and Wab Kinew'selection promise to enable drug use at a "safe consumption' site". After the first attempt to ram it through on Disraeli failed, they want to try it again on the other side of Main at 366 Henry Avenue.

Marty provided an analysis of the tactics to limit public participation, and the way it was immediately challenged by area stakeholders.

Dec. 8- NDP tries to rig consumption site consultations- again 

Dec. 9- North Logan neighborhood demands answers to safeconsumption site concerns  

Tuesday night, the normalization of the abnormal hit a tipping point at a hastily arranged public meeting.

Housing and Addictions Minister Bernadette Smith and other "experts" tried to convince home and business owners in the North Logan area that a safe consumption site is more important than their safety and their property values.

At the start it was announced that another meeting was added for next week, a retreat by the NDP of their plan to hold only one public session. Then, Smith proceeded to lay a goose egg with a total reversal of her assurances of a robust police presence near an SCS during the previous Disraeli Town Halls.

Calling police to the Henry site would be "a last resort", pumping the Downtown Community Safety Partnership handling things. The DCSP is already under fire for failing to respond to urgent situations in the East Exchange- and it doesn't seem to be trusted in North Logan either.

Smith described a pipeline to haul problematic addicts from the SCS to the "sobering centre" now slated for the Disraeli building, but her and her experts repeatedly ducked questions about rehab and recovery programs available for the drug users.

Listen to how "a very fragile community" has been spiraling downwards as Siloam Mission expanded operations on Princess Street, with complaints about increasing vandalism, theft, confrontations and human waste resulting. Through it all, Police Inspector Helen Peters didn't utter a peep. Neither did area councillor Vivian Santos.

42.45 Part 3- You'll hear how Smith tried to leverage the tragedy of a father whose son died to justify the need for the site. He had already spoken about his opposition to the SCS - and returned to the microphone to admonish Smith, especially because his son was not an addict.

"You don't get to own my story," Joseph intoned, warning Smith not to use his family to advance her "harm reduction'" agenda.

Meanwhile, attendees asked about how much was spent on the Henry Ave. proposal so far- and got no answer.

An SCS can affect property insurance and home and property values; drug dealers can lurk in nearby public parks to sell toxic drugs to site users; yet Smith and her experts showed no care for the worries of hardworking residents and business operators.

"It will save lives" rings hollow, when the lives and investments of neighborhood stakeholders can be ruined.