Unsafe working conditions stemming from public drug use has been taking a toll on a couple of downtown businesses.
Recently the Prince George Sexual Assault Centre moved to a new location due to increasing instances of vandalism and drug paraphernalia being discarded on the street, causing their clients to feel re-traumatized in some instances.
Additionally, public drug usage was causing so many issues for staff at the PG Public Library Bob Harkins branch that they had to limit their bathroom access to the public.
Todd Corrigall, Prince George Chamber of Commerce CEO says issues surrounding open drug use is an issue that continues to grow in downtown Prince George.
“There is still a growing population of people on the streets and in the business alcoves, even on the front steps of the Chamber which is outside of the downtown, on Tuesday morning we found a number of syringes, a number of baggies and a number of Naloxone shots, it’s proliferating through our entire community,” he explained.
Corrigal adds there has been an increasing amount of theft incidences downtown as well.
For example, Shh Home and Gifts was broken into twice in a five-week span earlier this summer, costing the business thousands of dollars in revenue.
“When we look at small business crime, what we see is lost revenue potential, we see a loss of the cost of goods, we see increased insurance cost, we see a potential reduction in staffing because they’re having to cut staffing to cover all these costs and then some reduced shopping that may be experienced as a result of any closures and clean ups that are necessary,” he explained.
Corrigal says Prince George is not the only community dealing with increasing amounts of criminal activity, as it is a province-wide issue as well.
He adds that when it comes to solutions for open drug use and other criminal activity downtown, a systematic change needs to be made.
“What needs to be recognized is we’ve deviated from a four pillars approach where there was harm reduction as one of those pillars, addictions treatment, recovery, community reintegration, all of these factors that are not being played out. All we’re talking about now is increased harm reduction strategies through safe supply and that’s not going to do anything to solve the problem, that’s just giving out free drugs.”
Corrigal explains the community needs to work more closely with at-risk populations to help break the cycle of addiction by offering programs such as addictions counselling, sexual assault counselling and trauma counselling.
“This approach to only giving people clean needles and clean drugs is killing our communities and we need to work more strategically and more cooperatively to find solutions that drive change.”
Tuesday morning after a long weekend. 15 syringes, at least 20 foil wraps, 4 baggies, 6 roaches, cigarette butts, food containers and empty naloxone shots. @jjhorgan @s_malcolmson @Dave_Eby @Lynhallpg How are businesses meant to succeed, grow and employ more people when 1/2 pic.twitter.com/XfaO4osfJ6
— Todd C (@PGChamberCEO) August 3, 2021