The PEI Aboriginal Council is convening the Charlottetown Council. Mitch Tweel apologized and resigned following comments he made at a recent council meeting.
But on Saturday, Tweel said he had no intention of doing so.
The Aboriginal Parliament took exception to Tweel’s comments at a special parliamentary meeting on September 17. 25 in discussing the use of modular buildings as overdose prevention sites.
Tweel resisted the idea, citing the example of his ward’s outreach center as an example of why.
“Look at the last few months, the last year,” he told the meeting.
“Any drug you want, you can get it. Drug paraphernalia has been distributed. There will also be a van out there tonight distributing drug paraphernalia. Drive over and check it out. Watch this episode.”
The Aboriginal Council of Prince Edward Island said the site Vantwell described was the council’s mobile harm reduction unit, which provides clean needles, first aid supplies and even clothing to those in need. This is part of a program funded by Health Canada.
A letter from the Assembly of First Nations to Tweel and the city council said there were already safety concerns with mobile unit staff. They installed lights and cameras for a staff member who was worried about his address being published.
Now, they say Tweel put staff at greater risk by advising people to “drive by and watch.”
Councilor Tweel’s call for action to be taken against our MHRT vans for “drive by and watch” over “illegal activity taking place” is a call for intimidation, harassment, abuse, poor treatment of others and bias towards service delivery. Community,.——Letter signed by NCPEI Director Lisa Cooper
The Assembly of First Nations said it had not responded to the letter and is now making a formal complaint.
“Cllr Twell’s call to ‘drive by and watch’ our MHRT vans in response to ‘illegal activity taking place’ is a call for intimidation, harassment, abuse, poor treatment of others and prejudice against service delivery to the community,” original the neighborhood committee said in a follow-up letter signed by Chief Lisa Cooper.
“Based on further investigation by City Council, this call to action may also be discriminatory against First Nations if Councilor Tweel knew that the van was operated by the Prince Edward Island Council of First Nations and our staff.”
The Assembly of First Nations wants Tweel to apologize publicly, receive an education and leave his position through resignation or dismissal.
When reached for comment Saturday, Tweel said he would not apologize or resign and reiterated his concerns about the effectiveness of the outreach center and mobile injury reduction unit.
“My constituents are my responsibility and I work every day to represent them in the most effective way possible,” Tweel said in an email to CBC.
I won’t rest until this process has the trust and trust of taxpaying residents.— MP.Mickey Tweel
“The outreach center and the unauthorized distribution of drug paraphernalia within the facility and community have been a concern for city residents over the past few months, and since the administration opened the facility, residents want their neighbors and communities to ensure Confidence and trust of tax residents. “
Tweel said needles and paraphernalia distributed by councils of First Nations ended up being dumped in residential areas.
He said he has questioned the operators of the outreach center and the province about the centre’s unauthorized distribution of drug paraphernalia, which he said was not available.
“Why is drug paraphernalia allowed to be distributed between two city schools, next to a seniors’ residence, between two apartment buildings and residences?” he said in an email to CBC News.
“Why is it up to sports organizations, coaches, support staff and administrators to pick up and clean dirty dangerous needles off sports fields and fields? Why is it up to City Schools, Birchwood Junior High and Princes Street School staff to clean up,” Checking school grounds daily to pick up dangerous drug paraphernalia that may contain fentanyl, methamphetamine, and/or hepatitis C? “