WINNIPEG -- Manitoba's first supervised drug consumption site could be open within a few weeks, as some nearby residents continue to oppose the idea.
The NDP government says it is setting up a temporary mobile structure at the site in central Winnipeg, while work continues on an existing building and getting federal approval for a permanent operation.
Bernadette Smith, the minister for addictions, says the province has opted to use a federal provision that allows provinces to run temporary supervised consumption sites focused on preventing overdoses.
She says it's the fastest way to get something set up, and a permanent operation could be in place by next winter.
Some area residents and business owners have opposed the plan and have raised concerns about security and access by people under 18 to the site.
Ed Gallos, who owns a roofing company next to the site, says the government has not addressed any of the community's concerns.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 5, 2026