St. Charles councillor remains opposed to addictions treatment centre

St. Charles Coun. Shawn Dobson says he's still opposed to putting an addictions treatment centre in his ward, even though he has been assured it will operate on a non-profit basis.

Dobson, Mayor Brian Bowman and other members of council attended an informal briefing Tuesday about the BruceOakeRecovery Centre, a 50-bed treatment centre proposed for the site of the old Vimy Arena.

The centre, named after broadcaster Scott Oake'slate son, who died of a heroin overdose in 2011,would offer long-termtreatment options for men suffering from addiction. The mayorsupports transferring city land to the Bruce OakeMemorial Foundationin order to establish the centre, but Dobson has complained he and his constituents have been left in the dark about the plans.

• City too secretive about location of Bruce Oake Recovery Centre, councillor says
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After attending a Tuesday meeting, the councillor said his primary issue with the project hasbeen put to rest.

"The biggest thing I could saywas that it was a not-for-profit, and that was the biggest concern for me, of course, for profit changes the whole dynamics of it,"Dobsonsaid Tuesday at city hall.

"It's a great idea that ScottOakeis bringingforwardhere and it would be good for the city, [but]I still have some misgivings of it being in that site because my residents don't want it."

Dobson said he expects a plan to transfer the land to the province and then over to the Oake foundation will come before council in December.