Kelowna mayor asks Ottawa to deny renewal of downtown supervised consumption site

Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas has asked the federal health minister to deny the renewal of the downtown supervised consumption site's authorization in 2027, citing unsustainable impacts on the community. The city reports over 3,500 RCMP calls, 371 medical emergencies, and 450 bylaw incidents near the site, with concerns including gang activity, weapons assaults, and drug trafficking. Businesses support the closure, but advocates warn it would eliminate other services at the Outreach Urban Health Centre. Interior Health recorded about 37,000 visits last year and says the site is life-saving, noting a decline in overdose deaths since 2023. The province says it is responding to the city's letter, while federal officials have not yet commented.