Some Lambton County councillors are frustrated by the provinces lack of expediency for a withdrawal management facility in the city.
Executives from the Erie St. Clair Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) and Bluewater Health updated councillors on the project Wednesday.
LHIN Acting CEO Ralph Ganter says provincial funding approval is imminent.
Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley appreciates what he calls a "sincere effort" by the organizations to move the project forward.
"We're very much trapped in the healthcare ministry bureaucracy," says Bradley. "There's also a lot of frustration at the county council level. We know the addiction issue is huge across Lambton County and we want to do everything possible to move this forward."
Bradley doesn't expect any movement on a facility before 2019 after hearing the presentation.
"We just want this to happen," he says. "The need is identified so strongly in the communities that it's frustrating the Ministry of Health can't fast track this and make it happen as soon as possible."
County Councillor Bev MacDougall says patience is a virtue.
"We had one mother in the audience here who lost a child and we all know people who have lost family members to addiction or piece of mind in families because of dependency issues," says MacDougall. "So, I wholeheartedly, absolutely 100%, support the time taken to develop the right project."
The proposed $10-million centre would provide ten residential, six stabilization and eight observation beds, addictions counselling and day treatment.
It's hoped some answers are provided at the end of February, when Lambton County representatives meet with Ontario's Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.
Sarnia-Lambton has been trying to establish a withdrawal management facility for decades.
