72-hour meth-detention bill fails to pass by deadline

The province’s plan to open a protective detention facility and hold people gripped in a methamphetamine psychosis for up to 72 hours won’t meet the Nov. 1 target.

Bill 48, the Protective Detention and Care of Intoxicated Persons Act didn’t pass before the legislature adjourned for the week on Thursday. It would replace the Intoxicated Persons Detention Act, which only allows for 24-hour detention.

Addictions Minister Bernadette Smith said the 72-hour protective care detention centre at 190 Disraeli Fwy. would be up and running Saturday if the legislation had passed in time.

“We’re ready to go Nov. 1,” Smith told reporters Wednesday. She said the necessary construction work in the provincially owned building — to hold and care for 20 intoxicated persons for up to 72 hours — had been completed.

The bill was introduced Oct. 2, just weeks before the end of the legislative session. It went to the committee stage two weeks ago for public input.

The Tories demanded amendments to address concerns about the bill, such as prohibiting a mobile overdose prevention component from operating within 500 metres of the detention centre.

They want the law to require that the minister publish a plan to address the potential impact of the centre on the community, include a 45-day community consultation about any regulations made or changed under the law, and at least one community meeting with the minister.

Progressive Conservative house leader Derek Johnson said attempts to negotiate with the government to get the bill passed in time — as well as private member’s bills that would be “positives for all Manitobans” — have been rebuffed.

“We made a proposal on Monday, Oct. 27, that has gone unanswered from the NDP government,” Johnson said Thursday.

Bill 48 was introduced so late in the legislative calendar that there was no guarantee it would be put to a vote and pass by Nov. 6, the last sitting day of the session, he said.

“The failure to call their bill in time… that’s on their failing government house leader,” Johnson said.

Premier Wab Kinew said Friday the goal of the bill should be non-negotiable.

“I’m sorry, do we have to negotiate to stop somebody from going on a meth psychosis-induced rampage? No,” Kinew said at an unrelated event.

“I think this is a matter of principle and Manitobans should ask the PCs why they would delay action on taking somebody off the streets and going on a rampage because of that.”

The premier dismissed the PC party’s amendments as “not good,” and said experts and the public have had the opportunity to weigh in on the bill.

In response, PC Leader Obby Khan said his party isn’t against the proposed law, but “we are committed to getting this right.”

Smith said passing the bill will save lives.

“We’ve had 570 overdoses this past year and we know that this is about keeping people alive and getting people the supports and resources that they need,” she told reporters Wednesday.

“This is something that the former government failed to do.”

— with files from Gabrielle Piche

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca