Consumption sites save lives, B.C. government says after Manitoba premier points to 'unintended consequences'

The office of B.C.'s premier says comments by Manitoba's Brian Pallisterwere the result of a misunderstanding of a conversation between the government leaders about supervised injectionsites.

In rejecting demands from the Opposition NDPfora supervised consumption sitein Winnipeg, Brian Pallister referredearlier this week of the "unintended consequences"of such harm-reduction facilitiessomething he says B.C.'s premier cautioned him about.

"I just recently spoke to Premier [John] Horganof British Columbia, and he says, 'I hope your opposition recognizes the unintended consequences of these actions. We do here in British Columbia,'" Pallister told the legislative assembly on Monday.

When asked about the nature of Pallister's conversation withHorgan while the Manitoba premier wasin British Columbia last month,B.C. government spokespersonSheena McConnell said there was a misunderstanding.

Sites saved 'thousands of lives': B.C. spokesperson

In fact,Horganis a staunch supporter of supervised consumption sites, she said.

"Overdose prevention and supervised consumption sites save lives and are a critical part of B.C.'s response to the overdose crisis," she said in astatement emailed to CBC News.

"Together with increased access to mental health and addictions services and supports, they have contributed to saving thousands of lives in our province."

The locations counted more than than a million visits between the summers of 2017 and 2018with thousands of overdoses reversed and no deaths reported, McConnell added.

"We continue to escalate our response to the overdose crisis every day, every week, every month to turn the tide on this unprecedented public health emergency."

There are 30 overdose prevention sites and supervised consumption sitesin B.C.To date, no one has died atanysite, health officials saywhich they say proves their effectiveness.

Pallister haspreviouslyargued that supervisedinjection sites do not help people struggling with methamphetamine addiction.

He repeated that argument Monday,following the release of a qualitative studyintroduced in the Manitoba Legislature that suggesteda majority of drug users, and the advocates who support them, want a safe consumption site in Winnipeg.

The report was the productof a working group of several health agencies,including the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, Sunshine House and Main Street Project. Their work was facilitated by a $15,000 federal grant.

Health advocates are generally supportive ofa safe- or supervised-consumption site, the study suggested, but they highlightedpotential concerns such as the location chosen, the needs of law enforcement andlaws against assisted injection for people who cannot inject the drug themselves.

'Not called for by any expert': health minister

The debate over supervised injection sites continued in the Manitoba Legislature on Wednesday.

Health Minister Cameron Friesenwas dismissive of the significance the Opposition NDP placed on the study, which relied on the opinions of38 drug users who met in a cafe-style setting.

"They wanted snacks. They wanted some chairs and couches," he said. "We do not believe that would be the basis on which to draw conclusions about the safety of such meth injection sites, which are not called for by any expert."

The government has continually said that supervised consumption spaces have not been proven to work in addressing the abuse of drugs likemethamphetamine.

Friesenalso referenced a news report that quoteda retail employee in Lethbridge, Alta., who was worried because her workplace is near a supervisedinjection site.