Provincial Government Reaffirms Commitment to Public Safety in Happy Valley-Goose Bay

October 25, 2024

Today, the Provincial Government is releasing the public safety review for Happy Valley-Goose Bay developed by the Policing Transformation Working Group and providing an update on measures to support public safety and address challenges with mental health, addictions and homelessness in the community.

The Policing Transformation Working Group submitted its report to the Provincial Government. The Honourable Bernard Davis, Minister of Justice and Public Safety, accepts all the recommendations and will work closely with community and government partners on their implementation.

Minister Davis will be available to media to discuss this report, as well as the Provincial Government’s efforts to address its recommendations, today (Friday, October 25) at 1:30 p.m. outside of the House of Assembly. Minister Davis will be joined by the Honourable John G. Abbott, Minister of Housing and Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, and Perry Trimper, MHA for Lake Melville.

The working group undertook extensive, targeted consultations in the Happy Valley-Goose Bay area and engaged with more than 85 key stakeholders and community members. A public call for written submissions was included, as well. The review included a comprehensive examination of existing policing public safety measures; analysis of crime data; community safety perceptions; and the effectiveness of current policing levels.

The report outlines six recommendations on ways to improve public safety and well-being for Happy Valley-Goose Bay residents:

• Increase RCMP complement in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
• Enhance collaboration between the RCMP and the Mobile Crisis Response Team.
• Support the development of a Community Safety Plan for the Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
• Prioritize rollout of body-worn cameras for RCMP.
• Establish formalized communication protocols with key community partners.
• Develop a pilot project for Happy Valley-Goose Bay to establish a safe community “situation table.”

The report also endorses continued work on the Integrated Health, Housing and Supportive Services Hub as a key response to homelessness in the region. Current shelter options are over-capacity, and this new facility will address current gaps while bringing housing options, along with health and other wrap-around services, under one roof.

The Hub will include on-site mental health and addictions counselling services, clinic spaces that will host primary care team members on a regular schedule, culturally appropriate Indigenous-led programming and initiatives, navigational supports to services, life skills supports and will incorporate programming of other community partners.

In November 2023, the Provincial Government appointed Woodford Architecture as the prime consultant to oversee the design and construction of the Hub. Numerous consultations were held in the community regarding the project, most recently in May 2024 to get local feedback on the proposed design of the facility. The prime consultant is now finalizing the detailed design and intends to issue a tender for construction in the new year, with construction planned to begin by fall 2025.

In addition, planning is underway for a new addictions treatment centre in Happy Valley-Goose Bay to further address the need for recovery and rehabilitation support for individuals living with addictions in the area.

Quotes
“Over the past number of weeks, the Policing Transformation Working Group engaged the Happy Valley-Goose Bay community on a more proactive approach to public safety in the area. I thank them for their dedicated efforts and will be accepting all the recommendations. I look forward to working closely with the RCMP, the Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay and all community partners, to take the necessary steps towards implementation. I thank all those that contributed to this process and look forward to the important work ahead.”
Honourable Bernard Davis
Minister of Justice and Public Safety

“This latest report into public safety once again reaffirms the need for the Happy Valley-Goose Bay Hub as a direct response to homelessness in the community, and it shows a distinct need for increased mental health and addictions supports in the area. We remain focused on our collaborative efforts to increase access to programs and supports as needed for the improved overall health and well-being of individuals and families in the region.”
Honourable John G. Abbott
Minister of Housing and Minister of Mental Health and Addictions

“The Provincial Government is moving on three coordinated initiatives to address the well-being of all residents in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, namely, to provide a low-barrier shelter with support services for those living at risk, addictions and mental health treatment and recovery in Labrador, and this plan to transform policing and community safety. I would like to thank the team from Justice and Public Safety for diverting resources to develop these recommendations and look forward to continued collaboration with their implementation. “
Perry Trimper, MHA for Lake Melville

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