Fears election will delay Hamilton's overdose prevention site's Friday opening

The groupsworking to set up a temporary overdose prevention site (OPS) in Hamilton havegovernment funding and trained staff, all they need now is someone to sign the documentssaying they can start.

But with the provincial election underway, advocates say there's no one approve the materialthey've been sending in, and they're worried the OPS won't be able to begin serving the community until after the vote next month.

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In the meantime, people in Hamilton continue to overdose and die, said Dr. Jill Wiwcharuk, lead physician for the Shelter Health Network and part of the team working to set up the site.

"Of course there's frustration, because what happened last week? Two more people died," she said.

"All the staff who want to make a difference ...are all ready and raring to go. We're just waiting for the green light."

The OPS already has an exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act for June 1 to Nov. 30 and last Sunday was spent training staff. But before they can begin working, Wiwcharuk said the government has to approve their policies, procedures and training logs.

That's a problem, she said, because"there's actually no one manning the desk right now."

CBCNews has contacted the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care for comment.

Rate of opioid-related deaths continues to climb

Advocates have been working to set up an OPSas therate ofopiod-relateddeaths in Hamilton has continuedclimbing in recentyears.

The ministry has sent the funds our way. I don't think the ministry [will] ask for a refund.- Dr. Jill Wiwcharuk, Shelter Health Network

Between January and October 2017 there were 70 confirmed and five probabledeaths linked to the drugs, compared to 41 during the same period the year before.

Project organizers announced at the beginning of the month that the province would provide $116,300 to create a six-month site at Hamilton Urban Core Community Health Centre's 71 Rebecca St. location.

Thefacilitywillfeaturean area for three people at a time to inject "pre-obtained" drugs under the watch of a medical professional. It willalso include a waiting room, a bathroom and a "chill out space," where people can spend some time after they inject to make sure they're okay.

Election outcome another worry

Hamilton is also trying to set up a permanent supervised injection site. The city's health staffarein talks with local hospitals about placingsupervised injection sites at one oftheir locations, after difficulty finding a landlord willing to host it.

• Hamilton votes to meet with hospitals about hosting a supervised injection site

Wiwcharuksaid one other worry is the outcome of election.

While the NDP,Liberals and Green Party are all on record in support of the sites,Ontario PC leadership candidateDoug Ford has previously said he's "dead against" supervised consumption sites.

"Are there a bit of nerves? Yes," said Wiwcharuk. "But the ministry has sent the funds our way. I don't think the ministry [will] ask for a refund."