New methadone clinic set to open in Westfort

Some Westfort business owners say they are upset about the location of a new methadone treatment centre set to open its doors this July.

Westfort Village Association member and owner of J.B. Evans Jack Moro said they’re not worried about the treatment of methadone users, but that it could scare away downtown shoppers.

"If it was a regular medical clinic we would have no issues but unfortunately it’s a clinic that has negative vibes throughout the community," he said. "We’re worried about what the perception will be."

Located at 218 Frederica Street West, the Ontario Addiction Treatment Centre is setting up shop in the heart of Westfort’s business section. Moro said area merchants are also unpleased that the OATC didn’t consult the Westfort Village Association before moving into the neighbourhood.

"The clinic has been set up through the backdoor if you will or without any knowledge of the merchants in the area," he said. "When people who want to set up business like Janzen’s Pharmacy across the street, they come to the community and tell us what they’re doing. They want to have input. They want to hear from other business owners in the community."

News of the clinic came as a surprise to Westfort Coun. Joe Virdiramo a few weeks ago. He said he feels some type of consultation should have been given to the area businesses so they could at least be prepared.

"(The clinic) has the right to be there," he said. "I think there should have been consultation. I think that the business organizations in Westfort should have been informed. We should have head some heads up, but apparently they don’t."

Virdiramo said someone must have done a study to ascertain there was a need for the treatment centre, but he was never made aware of one.

In response to a letter from the Westfort Village Association, OATC director of operations Rhonda Daiter wrote that out of the hundreds of thousands of people using opiates in the province, only 10 per cent seek help. It’s that small percentage that uses the treatment clinics.

"While not all get on the right path straight away, many do," she said. "As such, our clinic is a place of recovery and not a common ground for what is otherwise seen as the degenerates in our society. While often marginalized from mainstream society, please be reassured that those few that attend our program are desperately trying to repair their lives."

The Frederica Street address is zoned as medical and the OATC met the necessary criteria. Daiter said all required permits were submitted and approved and they are responsible tenants and promised to keep the location clean and safe.

"We are in 30 other locations across Ontario, mostly downtown or main streets, none of which have suffered lower sales or a depreciated property value as a result of our presence," she said. "I have no reason to believe that it would be different in Westfort."

The Westfort business organization took their concerns to Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro who told them the OATC is like any other medical practitioner and can locate their business in the location of their choice.

"Their operations do not require any government or Ministerial approval because methadone treatment is already an insurable OHIP service," Mauro stated in a letter to Moro.