Ottawa Police Chief Vern White says he's been assured that opening a drug rehab centre for young addicts in the Capital is imminent.
CTV News has learned the police chief got a long-requested meeting with Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty to discuss the issue on Monday.
White says after the meeting, he's sure Ottawa will soon be home to a new rehabilitation centre for young people.
"I'm confidant based on what I heard that over the next few weeks we will have a framework and I'm confident that everyone is on the same page and that everyone cared," White said.
The Ontario government confirmed to CTV News that it will be a partner in the endeavor.
One of the sites being explored for the new youth drug rehab centre is a facility near Carp, in rural west Ottawa, which currently houses a satellite care centre for the Royal Ottawa Hospital. Whether the venue is suitable for a new treatment centre, however, still needs to be formally assessed.
White says the key to making something happen quickly is to use space that already exists, rather than spending time and money to build something new.
"I think there are a number of options out there. I'm always concerned if we talk about building something brand new because of cost and time," he said.
It's estimated about 360 teenagers, aged 13 to 17, live in a daily haze of addiction and crime on Ottawa's streets.
The Capital's growing drug problem was highlighted in a recent W-Five report which painted the Capital as a drug haven.
White told W-Five he was aware of the problem and had spent 10 months trying to arrange a meeting with the premier to discuss the issue.
With a report from CTV's Chris Day
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