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The proposed community locations include the Boyle McCauley Health Centre on 96 Street and 106 Avenue, Boyle Street Community Services at 101 Street and 105 Avenue and the George Spady Society at 100 Street and 105A Avenue, locations that already provide services for Edmonton’s homeless.

Protesters on Saturday argued the decision to concentrate these services in already marginalized communities is more about politics than it is about benefiting those in need of services.

“The neighbourhoods that have the voter turnout and money to make or break their political careers do not want them,” said Cris Basualdo, resident of Alberta Avenue, who called the decision “racist, it’s classist and it is economic segregation.”

Photo by David Bloom / Postmedia

“Why are we chosen as the only community that should serve the vulnerable and desperate? Homelessness and the fentanyl crisis affects all of Edmonton and all of Alberta,” said Fiddler.

Warren Champion, director of the Central McDougall Community League, said the majority of drug overdoses in the city occur outside the downtown core, but other communities have been more organized and vocal in their opposition.

“It’s a whole lot politically easier to deal with,” Champion said.

Many protesters took issue with a perceived lack of community consultation.

“We do have a voice in our destiny. We do not want people to dictate in our community, to make decisions affecting our lives, our security, our safety and our community health without consultation,” said Michael Lee, chair of the Edmonton Chinese Benevolent Association.