Premier expects Westman role on task force

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This article was published 19/12/2018 (2561 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s still early days for Manitoba’s newly created Illicit Drug Task Force, but Premier Brian Pallister said he expects Brandon and Westman will play some sort of a role in the group’s work moving forward.

Speaking to The Brandon Sun by phone on Tuesday, Pallister said he didn’t want to talk out of turn, given that the task force’s co-chairs and oversight committee will determine who its members will be in the end.

“But I can’t imagine any kind of strategy going forward without Westman involvement in it, and Brandon involvement specifically,” he said.

Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman, Manitoba Health Minister Cameron Friesen and Winnipeg Centre Liberal MP Robert-Falcon Ouellette announced the creation of a new task force Tuesday that will study and address the rise in drug use and distribution in Manitoba, particularly around methamphetamine, opioids, cocaine and hallucinogens.

The task force will be co-chaired by Manitoba deputy health minister Karen Herd and City of Winnipeg chief corporate services officer Michael Jack, and include an oversight committee made up of members from all three levels of government.

The co-chairs and oversight committee will decide who serves on the task force’s working group, which will look at improving existing prevention and treatment programs, enforcement, including possible changes to the Criminal Code, and suggest ways to better communicate the dangers of illicit drug use to the community, businesses, and vulnerable groups.

The working group will also consult with health professionals, social service providers, law enforcement, first responders, and the legal and academic community.

The task force is expected to release a report, with recommendations, in June 2019.

Pallister, who was in Brandon on Monday to announce new funding for programs that aim to reduce bicycle theft and recidivism, said he had a productive discussion with Mayor Rick Chrest and Brandon Police Chief Wayne Balcaen about some of the challenges facing the city and Westman.

He said his government has tried to make a point of trying to bring different groups, including police agencies, social services and addictions experts, together to tackle the problem of drugs, rather than having them work in silos.

“This is how … Manitoba has faced challenges in the past, successfully, and how we’re going to face this one,” he said.

In an email Tuesday, Chrest said: “We are in frequent engagement with provincial officials regarding all aspects of the illicit drug issues throughout Manitoba and specifically in our community.

“Details on this new initiative will be worked out in the near future, but certainly Brandon will be more than willing to participate in this program and offer any insights and collaboration we can.

“We look forward to meaningful outcomes from these partnerships and commend the provincial and federal governments, as well as the City of Winnipeg, for taking the lead on this issue.”

In a separate statement, Friesen referenced the meeting he had Monday with the premier, Justice Minister Cliff Cullen, Chrest, and the BPS chief and deputy chief, on the “devastating effects that meth has had on the city.”

“Members of the working group that will advise this task force have yet to be determined, but a broad spectrum of groups and individuals will be involved in our tri-level efforts to address and respond to this growing problem across the province.”

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