Sober centres City council will work on options for developing a sobering centre in Halifax as an alternative to using holding cells for intoxicated people. The motion came from councillor Lindell Smith, who requested a staff report in February on the feasibility of a sobering centre that considers services needed to support unhoused people in Halifax and drug users. Council members, with the exception of councillor Paul Russell, voted yes to developing alternatives for police involvement. Russell said developing alternatives to the current “drunk tank” is not the city’s responsibility. “Once again we’re swimming outside of our lane,” Russell said during the standard Tuesday, June 29 meeting of Halifax Regional Council.