Kinew says addicts shouldn’t determine how the rest of society lives

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said those suffering from severe drug addiction in his province will no longer “have the right to determine how the rest of us are going to live in our society.”

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Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said those suffering from severe drug addiction in his province will no longer “have the right to determine how the rest of us are going to live in our society.”

His comments came during a press conference in Winnipeg to discuss a bill that would allow authorities to detain intoxicated people for up to 72 hours if they are causing a disturbance while on drugs.

“It’s pretty simple,” Kinew told reporters at a press conference on Thursday.

“I think everybody knows that meth is causing a tonne of damage out there, and we need to do something about it. So we are. People who are suffering from meth addiction do not have the right to determine how the rest of us are going to live in our society. Quite the opposite. I would say that the rest of society, all of us, have a responsibility to take action, and help these people.”

The Protective Detention and Care of Intoxicated Persons Act adds a “definition of intoxication to include drugs and allows for the detention of intoxicated people for up to 72 hours.”

The new legislation, also known as Bill 48, aims to ensure those apprehended are “protected for the length of a meth psychosis under the direction of health-care professionals.”

The purpose of detention would be to prevent them from harming themselves or others while in this state, as well as to allow for follow-up care after their psychosis has diminished.

Kinew said the province needs the legislation “passed right now” and that the government has already acquired the occupancy permit for the facility where people will stay and that “people are being trained up to deliver the services.”

While Manitoba’s Progressive Conservatives support the legislation, the party called for several amendments, including a prohibition on detox sites within 500 metres of a school or daycare.

The party also sought to have mandatory public consultations and an annual report on who was detained.

“The minister has to publish annual reports, sharing data like what kind of services were offered to people upon release, etc. Manitobans deserve transparency and accountability for these centres,” wrote Progressive Conservative Leader Obby Khan on Wednesday.

“Which of these seem unreasonable? Wab Kinew and Government House Leader Nahanni Fontaine have yet to explain which of these he has a problem with and why.”

Meanwhile, Independent MLA Mark Wasyliw has also been a strong opponent of the bill, accusing the premier of trying to “repackage coercion as compassion,” likening the protective care centre conditions to solitary confinement.

Wasyliw called their detainment a form of humiliation and challenged Kinew to spend three days in such a facility.

“Despite the opposition’s attempts to stall and block this important legislation, we are going to make our streets safer through this new, updated legislation that reflects the reality of our streets,” said Addictions Minister Bernadette Smith in a statement.

Kinew said he resented how the issue had become politicized, calling it a “shame.”

“This is not really anything new, ok? This already happens if somebody is intoxicated from alcohol. What we’re saying is we need to respond to meth as well. Seems like a pretty common sense step. Let’s get this thing passed into law. Let’s free up police officers from having to babysit people in emergency rooms, get them back out into the street,” he said.

“Let’s free up resources in the community from having to address the chaos that we see outside our car windows, outside our house windows. Most of all, let’s just help people that are struggling get the healthcare and get the treatment that they need.”