Council looking to meet with SMHC officials
Posted By Brian Bowman
Posted 2 months ago
Selkirk council has expressed interest in meeting with Selkirk Mental Health Centre representatives to discuss security measures in the wake of last month's startling revelations involving patient Earl Joey Wiebe.
Councillor John Buffie raised the issue at council several weeks ago but, so far, a meeting between local health centre personnel and Selkirk council has not happened.
Buffie admits he is "very disappointed" that no meeting has taken place yet between Selkirk council and SMHC representatives.
"There has been no discussion," said Buffie Wednesday afternoon. "We would want to know what their procedures are and how they're addressing the issue so that we could be informed so that we could share with the public if they were to call and ask about it.
"Especially with the new information that has come out, it is just responsible on our part. We're the custodians of the city and we have been asked to take on some responsibilities and I think that's one of them," he stressed.
SMHC CEO Danah Bellehumeur was unavailable for comment. However, Marie O'Neill, Associate Deputy Minister, Manitoba Health and Healthy Living, said Bellehumeur and Selkirk Mayor Dave Bell, who also works at the centre, have had "informal discussions" recently.
"At this point in time, the CEO Danah Bellehumeur, has not received a request from the City of Selkirk for a meeting but she is quite prepared and very interested in meeting with them and having a discussion on this topic," said O'Neill.
O'Neill said specifics of the Wiebe case would not be shared with council. But did say security protocol would be discussed.
"Danah could provide fairly in-depth information about the security systems that are in place that would be both security equipment and personnel and what procedures that are in place," O'Neill explained. "And to me that sounds like what city council is interested in. Danah is very prepared to, at the first moment she gets an official request, to contact city council."
Buffie wants that meeting to occur as soon as possible.
"It would be (beneficial) for us to work with mental health and understand and to see if we're comfortable with the safeguards that they have in place," said Buffie. "And if we're not comfortable and if we have some concerns, then we can at least voice those concerns to the correct authorities so that our concerns can be heard and, if reasonable, changes can be implemented."
Wiebe, 26, caused a multitude of problems at SMHC since coming to Selkirk in 2001 after being found not criminally responsible for the murder of his step-mother, Candis Moizer, at their Niverville home.
Several weeks ago, Wiebe was caught hiding a knife, drugs and alcohol in the ceiling tiles of his room at the centre, a medium-security facility. He was also found to be in possession of a key that allowed him access to several rooms at the facility.
In 2006, he escaped and spent three weeks on the run and, more recently, became involved in a sexual relationship with a psychiatric nursing student who was his lone escort on several trips off the facility grounds. That nurse – who also corresponded with Wiebe through love letters – has since been fired.
"The public has a right to know why this happened and to ensure it doesn't happen again," said Coun. Larry Johannson Monday evening. "It has been a concern of members of the public who have brought it forward. We're not asking for people's names to be made public, we just want people to feel safe in Selkirk."
The centre has upgraded security and announced an independent review of operations since the latest Wiebe incident.
"We were unnerved that this had happened and a number of community members have approached us and have said that they have felt less safe," Coun. Duane Nicol explained. "We want to make an effort to work with (SMHC) to ensure the safety of Selkirk. We feel confident that the centre is looking after the best interests of the community but when a story like this comes out, it shakes the confidence that we have."
Meanwhile, it has been reported that Wiebe is expected to be shipped to a high-security forensic unit outside of the province as soon as pending criminal charges and paperwork can be finalized.
The Criminal Code Review Board has authorized the rare transfer, citing safety concerns. They also have recommended Wiebe be housed in a maximum-security centre and be escorted by at least two sheriff's officers whenever he leaves the facility.
Wiebe is currently at the Winnipeg Remand Centre.
