Penticton council turns down potential shared funding model with struggling Pathways Addictions Resource Centre

Photo: Chelsea Powrie

Pathways Addictions Resource Centre won't be getting a special funding partnership with the City of Penticton.

At Tuesday's council meeting, Coun. Julius Bloomfield asked his fellow councillors to direct city staff to investigate a possible shared funding model between Pathways and the city, in order to keep it alive and offering services to the community.

Pathways lost its annual $500,000 Interior Health funding this spring in a contentious move by the provincial body to bring addictions services in-house at a new facility on Martin Street.

Pathways has since transitioned to a fee-for-service model to keep its doors open.

Coun. James Miller spoke in support of exploring Bloomfield's idea, saying the fee-for-service model at Pathways has been difficult to afford for many who normally use their services.

"I'm gonna support [the motion] just to bring it to discussion, I don't think there's been anyone in the community as outspoken about their support for Pathways than myself. But this is Interior Health's responsibility," Miller said.

"It is a 100 per cent needed service and if Interior Health is watching, I plead with you yet again. Please reconsider, and do the right thing," he added, extending an offer to take an afternoon off work and meet with IH and some members of the public who have benefited from Pathways.

But Couns. Katie Robinson and Judy Sentes had concerns about the motion, although both voiced support for Pathways' work in general. They worried that if the city were to get involved, it would send the wrong message to Interior Health and the province.

"The city is responsible for roads and water and sewage, and all those really glamorous things, and in as much as if we had unlimited budgets, I'd love to cure the ills of the world, but that is not our jurisdiction. And I have to draw the line at this one," Robinson said.

"The more we step forward in this vein, the more they're going to let us," Sentes said.

"I think we have to be very clear that advocating lobbying for the support that our community needs is what our job is, not to pay for it. We don't have the money ... It hurts, it really hurts, but I can't support this, because I fear where it would lead us."

Coun. Bloomfield pointed to how many issue in the community, like crime and high police caseloads, are related to mental health, and services like Pathways get to the root of that problem.

"As far as getting the value for the dollar spent on community safety, for the cost of one more police officer you could do a lot towards helping Pathways. And when you look at it, I mean, which is more effective? Keeping Pathways alive, or having one more police officer?" Bloomfield asked.

Coun. Campbell Watt said he expects to see Pathways come forward during the next municipal grant application period, when he would be happy to support, but said he can't support a shared funding model as proposed.

"It is really difficult to look at something like this, with emotion, and not want to give every dollar they need for the lifetime that they're around. But, our role is unfortunately to sometimes make what is a difficult decision," Watt said.

Mayor John Vassilaki was also in opposition, citing similar concerns of downloaded responsibilities from provincial authorities.

The motion failed to pass 4-3.