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Sobering Centre

Opening of sobering centre in Prince George staggers behind schedule

Mar 3, 2023 | 4:54 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – A new sobering centre is still months away from opening in downtown Prince George with the expected opening nearly a year behind schedule.

The new facility was announced in June 2022 by the then Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Sheila Malcolmson with an expected opening date of ‘early Fall 2022.’

According to Northern Health, selecting an operator for the site is still ongoing, with expectations to open the beds to those needing them this summer.

Northern Health is committed to bringing these much-needed sobering and assessment services online for people in Prince George and the region as quickly as possible. At this time we are still in the procurement process as the initial Expression of Interest to find an operator resulted in higher than anticipated responses requiring a subsequent RFP process to evaluate those proponents.”

“The RFP was posted last month and recently closed; we expect to have a provider selected in early April, and the service to be online this summer.”

Health critic and local MLA Shirley Bond was quick to call on the government for failing to deliver the project on-time.

Well, I think announcements are one thing, I think delivering and providing results for British Columbians is what matters her,” said Bond. “You can continue to make announcements about adding money but what matters is making a difference in people’s lives.”

According to the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions, government will have more to say on new services includes in Budget 2023 in the months to come.

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