After burning down in Indian Head in December, the Pine Lodge Treatment Centre is now facing delays in relocating to Fort San.
CUPE Saskatchewan is raising concern over the delay, saying it could lead to more overdose deaths.
President Judy Henley says Fort San already has a treatment centre.
“The other one is for men young teens, whereas this one would be open to all,” Henley said. “We need these treatment centres open in Saskatchewan to treat the ill from their addiction problems.”
according to CUPE, the village council is delaying approval due to concerns around theft and safety issues in the community.
Henley calls the concerns “ridiculous.”
“In Indian Head, there have been no issues at all,” Henley said. “All kinds of people go to these facilities are there to get help, they’re there to get better, addiction is an illness.
“There seems to be a stigma as to who is going to these places, and that’s very unfortunate.”
Henley says this is an important situation that needs to be resolved, as it could create a ripple-effect.
“We have people’s lives at risk when they do not get the treatment that is needed,” Henley said. “When the facility closed, that means there is no treatment and the waiting list will be longer.”
14 of the 23 unionized employees at Pine Lodge were laid off Monday. Henley says the Fort San centre would be bigger, meaning more jobs would be available.
