Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - March 15, 2022, Winnipeg, Manitoba C M Y K PAGE B1 CITY ● BUSINESS ASSOCIATE EDITOR NEWS: STACEY THIDRICKSON 204-697-7292 ● CITY.DESK@FREEPRESS.MB.CA ● WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM B1 TUESDAY MARCH 15, 2022 SECTION BCONNECT WITH WINNIPEG’S NO. 1 NEWS SOURCE▼ MANITOBA’S auditor general will scrutinize provincial addictions ser- vices as part of a broad review into sup- ports offered to people struggling with substance use. Tyson Shtykalo said he ordered the audit as “problematic substance use and addictions can have devastating impacts on those affected, as well as those around them.” “I selected this audit because I be- lieve the subject matter is in the public interest,” Shtykalo said in a statement to the Free Press. He was not available for an interview. Marion Willis, executive director at St. Boniface Street Links and Morberg House, said the review could serve as a catalyst for modernizing addictions and recovery services in the province. “We need to stop talking about treat- ment centres and we need to start talking about recovery,” Willis said. “We really do need to have a very well-developed, well-defined, seamless system of care that looks at the root cause and treats all that comes with it and supports people long term.” Willis said the auditor general’s time would be well used evaluating four- week treatment programs — which she described as “sacred cows” of the sys- tem — offered by both provincial and private-sector organizations. “We do know that 28-day addiction treatment programs have had revolv- ing doors for all the decades that I’ve been in the sector,” Willis said. “They never really worked very well for alco- holics and they certainly are no match for drug addiction, not the level of ad- diction that we face.” Willis also argued there are too few detox centres in Manitoba and current provincial programs do not necessarily meet the needs of people seeking help and rely on exclusionary criteria. Given the rate of overdose deaths re- ported in 2020, Willis said it is shocking programs have not been overhauled to respond to need. Manitoba reported 372 overdose deaths in 2020, and 199 over- dose deaths in the first half of 2021. “There’s never been a more import- ant time to screen people in and meet people where they’re at,” Willis said. “We need to better understand the ad- dicted population. Not everyone is com- ing from the same place, same walk of life, and they didn’t enter addiction at the same point.” During a desperate search for help while in the midst of opioid withdrawal, Chris Bruce said he was turned away from the Health Sciences Centre and a provincial rapid access to addictions medicine clinic for declining Suboxone, a synthetic opioid treatment. No other treatment options or support were offered as long as he refused the drug, he said. “I felt invisible and more like a statis- tic than anything else,” the 44-year-old said. “It makes you feel helpless.” Bruce was on the verge of reaching out to his dealer before connecting with Willis at Morberg House who offered him a bed in the facility earlier this month. He’s now on the mend, gaining weight and was in good spirits when speaking with a reporter Monday. “I wasn’t sure if I was going to live through my withdrawal, but I was at a point where I didn’t care. I was going to go through the pain or die sober,” Bruce said. “I don’t think I could ever repay Morberg House.” Bruce said the review must look at the scope of current treatment and recovery programs to ensure people in similar situations — who prefer to quit “cold tur- key” — aren’t left to fend for themselves. Willis said she looks forward to an independent analysis of addictions ser- vices and hopes the auditor general’s review will engage with front-line work- ers, including those at Morberg House. “I think it’s long overdue,” Willis said. “There’s so many reasons why we need to be doing this.” In a statement, a spokesman for Mental Health and Wellness Minister Sarah Guillemard said the department is meeting with the auditor general to define the scope of the audit. Last month, Guillemard announced over $40 million in spending to sup- port the government’s five-year mental health and community wellness strategy. The province has yet to determine how the money will be spent, the spokesman said. danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca Audit to probe delivery of addictions programming DANIELLE DA SILVA A proposed neighbourhood rehabilita- tion home would strive to help Winni- peggers recover from addictions, with services that could extend over a few years for some patients. Adult and Teen Challenge of Central Canada plans to convert an industrial building at 83 Kate St. in the Centenni- al neighbourhood into a new addictions treatment centre, which would also in- corporate 18 apartments for a transi- tional successful housing program. “I really believe we can really help families and people cut down on the time that they’re in the destructive pattern of the devastation of addiction and find complete freedom,” said Dan- iel Emond, the organization’s president. “We hope and pray that our city will embrace and help us… and (help) make this dream a reality.” The facility would offer 20-bed short- term and 45-bed long-term recovery programs, as well as transitional hous- ing that helps people who need it grad- ually re-enter the broader community. Some people who require all those steps could spend years in treatment. “It covers all stages of recovery and the full spectrum of services,” said Emond. The facility would be a positive addi- tion to the neighbourhood, he said. “The traffic that we would create is actually good traffic. It’s people that are changing their lives, that want help. It wouldn’t be driving drugs or drug deal- ers or crime to the area,” said Emond. The full spectrum of treatment ser- vices would be expected to increase the likelihood of successful outcomes, while one- to three-bedroom apart- ments could help families stay close to the person recovering from addiction, he said. “We can actually help families. May- be dad’s struggling with alcohol addic- tion and mom’s not able to make the mortgage or just in crisis. We want to be able to bring the whole family into the facility,” he said. The project is expected to cost about $8.5 million, with a fundraising cam- paign expected to begin after a City of Winnipeg zoning process wraps up. While the area is already zoned for residential development, the proposal re- quires a conditional use hearing at city council’s Lord Selkirk-West Kildonan community committee on March 18. The warehouse building is a unique and beautiful structure that is more than 100 years old, Emond said, noting it is worth keeping and renovating. Adult and Teen Challenge already op- erates other recovery beds in the city, but Emond said the pandemic, along with rising food prices, economic un- certainty and other factors, is fuelling a sharp increase in demand for more addictions treatment spaces. “It’s devastating to see some of the peo- ple with needles and methamphetamine in complete psychosis. There is more of a need than ever (for treatment) with the uncertainty of the world,” he said. A city report on the proposal de- scribes the facility as a good fit for the surrounding neighbourhood. “The proposal is to utilize an existing building, which in addition to prevent- ing waste from going to the landfill also results in preservation of the existing built form and character of the neigh- bourhood,” the report states. Coun. Cindy Gilroy, who leads the Winnipeg Housing Steering Commit- tee, also believes in the necessity of the facility. “This is something I’ve been really championing. This is something that is deeply needed, as we know that we have a major addiction problem in the city,” said Gilroy. Adult and Teen Challenge would de- cide whether the proposed space will serve men or women based on demand. joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga Rehab facility envisioned for Centennial warehouse JOYANNE PURSAGA JESSICA LEE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Daniel Emond says the addictions treatment centre would offer a spectrum of services. A NEW program aims to provide refuge to Ukrainians forced to flee a devastating Russian in- vasion, while also trying to connect them with jobs in Winnipeg. Before the current crisis, Eco- nomic Development Winnipeg had planned a mission to recruit new talent from Ukraine, due to the coun- try’s highly skilled labour force. Instead, as millions have left the eastern European nation, the eco- nomic development agency has shifted its focus to supporting those seeking a safe destination, along with federal and other partners. “We are working with cultural or- ganizations, (including) the Manitoba arm of the Ukrainian Canadian Con- gress, to find expedited pathways for Ukrainian refugees to find safe har- bour in our province. We will now use our business networks on the ground in countries that have received dis- placed Ukrainians to spread the word about temporary or permanent job opportunities that exist here in Winnipeg,” Dayna Spiring, the orga- nization’s president, told city coun- cil’s innovation and economic devel- opment committee on Monday. The original mission planned to tap into Ukraine’s strong talent pool in information and communications technology, agribusiness, advanced manufacturing, aerospace and trans- portation distribution, all of which are also key industries in Manitoba, Spring said. The program will now focus on helping newcomers find jobs quick- ly, which could also boost Winnipeg’s economic recovery from COVID-19, she said. Economic Development Winnipeg said its efforts will extend to attract- ing entire businesses, who could possibly opt to temporarily or perma- nently move their operations from Ukraine to Winnipeg. “Let us give (them) a safe landing space,” said Spiring. Nick Krawetz, a volunteer with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress’s Manitoba branch, said he supports the effort to not only help people leave Ukraine, but to proactively attempt to connect them with jobs. “They’re fleeing missiles right now, so the ultimate goal is to get them to safety. If they can come to Manitoba temporarily or permanent- ly, seeking a safe refuge, we want to make sure they are supported on all fronts. We’re hoping the busi- ness community will be able to hire these people rather soon so that they can start recovering and support- ing themselves and also supporting their families back in Ukraine,” said Krawetz. Since men between the ages of 18 and 60 are not allowed to leave Ukraine, he noted many families are being separated. “The timing is quite dire but these people, (some of whom) are stuck in neighbouring countries, if they have an opportunity to come to Manitoba, they should be welcomed with open arms,” said Krawetz. He said he’s hopeful a federal an- nouncement will share details of two streams of immigration from Ukraine by Thursday: one that allows people to work or study in Canada for up to two years and another for per- manent moves (which could include those who have family already living in Canada). About 180,000 Manitobans have Ukrainian roots, a factor that could help ease the transition for those who move here, Krawetz added. “It’s kind of a win-win for the peo- ple that are seeking refuge but also mobilizing our business community and potentially attracting some of these people to help grow our econo- my,” said Krawetz. Coun. Jeff Browaty, who leads the innovation committee, said “heart- breaking” violence in Ukraine re- mains the top concern. At the same time, he agreed that proactively plan- ning to help those who move to Win- nipeg find jobs is a good idea. “People are not necessarily here by choice, but they’re going to make the best of the circumstances,” said Bro- waty. “One of the ways we can help is matching them with good employ- ment.” Following Monday’s meeting, Eco- nomic Development Winnipeg told the Free Press the effort to fast-track immigration pathways from Ukraine is still “in the early stages.” joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga Ukraine conflict repurposes economic agency’s outreach JOYANNE PURSAGA Recruiting efforts shift to aid, employ refugees JESSICA LEE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Nick Krawetz, a volunteer with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress’s Manitoba branch, is hopeful the business community will be able to hire Ukrainians arriving in the province. B_01_Mar-15-22_FP_01.indd 1 2022-03-14 9:59 PM ;