Penticton city councillor calling on IH to return funding to Pathways

Photo: Contributed

A Penticton city councillor wants to see more done for Pathways Addiction Resource Centre, requesting council support a letter in favour of restoring funding from Interior Health.

The newly elected Coun. James Miller asked his fellow politicians in a special meeting on Thursday to write a letter to Susan Brown, CEO of IH, with copies to BC Health Minister Adrian Dix, and Penticton MLA Dan Ashton requesting the traditional funding to Pathways Addiction and Resource Center of $500,000 annually, be restored effective immediately, and be continued for a minimum of two years.

Pathways had its funding pulled in March after IH announced suddenly that they would be bringing addictions services in-house.

Since funding from IH makes up around 95 per cent of the organization’s budget, the future for the organization was uncertain on how they would remain open, although they stated previously on being "determined" to find a way.

So far, a limited amount of people who accessed Pathway's services have made the transition over the IH's new Urgent and Primary Care Clinic on Martin Street.

The proposal to council will be discussed at the next city council meeting on Aug. 17.