Feds vow to review court's safe-injection site ruling

Drug addicts and harm reduction advocates hugged and cheered in the streets Friday morning after the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in favour of the city's supervised injection site.

Power Play: Panel of MPs on safe injections

Liberal MP Hedy Fry, NDP MP Olivia Chow and the parliamentary secretary of health Colin Carrie discuss the Supreme Court's decision to keep the safe injection site in Vancouver open. Chow says she hopes more injection sites open up across the country.

Power Play: Dean Wilson, Insite user

A former Insite user says he was ecstatic to hear the court's ruling and says getting the Insite open was a huge battle. He also says Insite is a comprehensive medical facility and injections are just one small aspect of it.

CTV News Channel: Tim Gauthier, Insite

A clinical coordinator of Insite explains some of the ways his clinic is helping drug users recover from drug overdose, as well as stop the spread of disease.

CTV News Channel: Injection sites to stay open

CTV's Mercedes Stephenson explains a Supreme Court ruling which will allow centres that give 'safe' and supervised injections to drug addicts to stay open.

CTV Edmonton: New push for local injection site

A Supreme Court ruling that allowed a B.C. safe injection site for addicts to remain open, is adding more weight to the idea of setting up such a site in Edmonton.

Question period: Tories 'disappointed' with decision

The NDP and the Liberals blast the Tories after Leona Aglukkaq, the minister of health, expresses her disappointment in the Supreme Court of Canada's decision.

CTV News Extended: Davies, Murray on the Tories

NDP MP Libby Davies and Liberal MP Joyce Murray say they are concerned the Tories never wanted to learn what Insite is or how it helps addicts.

Watch: See all Videos in the Player

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CTVNews.ca Staff

Date: Fri. Sep. 30 2011 10:52 PM ET

The Harper government will abide by a 9-0 Supreme Court decision upholding British Columbia's right to operate a supervised drug injection site, but Canada's health minister says it will review the ruling.

The court ordered the federal government to abandon its attempts to close the Insite facility in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, saying they are convinced that the site is saving lives without increasing crime in the surrounding area.

"I'm ecstatic. Seven to eight people are alive every year because of that place," former Insite user Dean Wilson told CTV's Power Play.

Wilson was a heroin addict for 40 years.

"This is a neighborhood that's already suffered from years of addiction that needed intervention. It was a killing zone."

Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said while her government is disappointed with the Supreme Court's decision, it will comply.

"We believe that the system should be focused on preventing people from becoming drug addicts. A key pillar of the national, anti-drug strategy is prevention and treatment for those with drug dependency," she told the House of Commons.

"We will be reviewing the court decision," she added.

The court's 9-0 ruling is considered a rebuke of the Harper government's tough-on-crime agenda.

When the ruling was announced, a crowd of social activists in Vancouver and Downtown Eastside residents burst into cheers and applause. The Canadian Medical Association also issued a tweet to say they were pleased with the decision.

Insite has been operating since 2003 through exemptions from federal drug laws that allow the site's clients to avoid facing drug possession charges.

The government had attempted to allow that exemption to lapse.

But in its ruling Friday, the Supreme Court said the government must continue to grant the site an exemption, agreeing that the experiment of Insite "has proven successful."

The top court stated in its ruling that "Insite has saved lives and improved health without increasing the incidence of drug use and crime in the surrounding area. It is supported by the Vancouver police, the city and provincial governments."

The court rejected the federal argument that the facility runs counter to its crime-fighting agenda.

"The potential denial of health services and the correlative increase risk of death and disease to injection drug users outweigh any benefit that might be derived from maintaining an absolute prohibition on possession of illegal drugs on Insite's premises," the justices wrote.

But they added that their ruling is "not a licence for injection drug users to possess drugs wherever and whenever they wish."

"Nor is it an invitation for anyone who so chooses to open a facility for drug use under the banner of a ‘safe injection facility,'" they said.

As many as 800 drug users a day visit Insite to use its 12 booths to inject drugs with clean needles. Clients are provided with health information, counselling, and referrals to various services, including an in-house detox and treatment centre.

"It took me three times to do it, and that's another good thing about (Insite), if you try and walk away they'll let you back in. I walked out straight the third time and I've been clean almost 22 months," Wilson said.

Opposition reaction

New Democratic Party deputy leader Libby Davies praised the decision on Friday, saying it would put an end to "years of Conservative interference."

Speaking in the House of Commons, she said the Harper government has an opportunity "to take off their ideological blinders and support a vital public service that has saved lives and given people hope."

She added that drug overdoses have dropped by more than a third in her Vancouver East riding since the clinic opened there in 2003.

Liberal MP Joyce Murray, who hails from the riding of Vancouver Quadra, asked Aglukkaq to clarify what she meant by saying the government would review the decision.

"Will the government respect the Supreme Court's decision and stop attacking Insite?" she demanded.

In response, Aglukkaq said the court ruling had only been handed down hours earlier and that the government will "do the due diligence and review the Supreme Court decision."

The ruling Conservatives have long opposed the facility, arguing it only encourages drug addiction.

"At the end of the day there's no such thing as safe injection. What you're looking at is a hard street drug that's being contaminated going into a human beings arm. Those drugs kill people," Colin Carrie, parliamentary secretary to the health minister, told Power Play.

The site's supporters point to a number of peer-reviewed studies that have found that Insite prevents overdose deaths, reduces the spread of disease, curbs crime, and curtails open drug use.

InSite's clinical co-ordinator, Tim Gauthier, said the clinic saves public money by preventing the spread of infectious diseases like HIV that can require expensive medical treatment.

"It's really cost effective," he told CTV News Channel on Friday. "You've got to spend a bit of money to save money."

Gauthier added that he hopes the Supreme Court's decision will help pave the way for an expansion of addiction services across the country.

NDP MP Olivia Chow said she hopes this will encourage similar initiatives in other cities.

"Let's just move ahead, work together so that more cities can benefit from this," she said.

"I hope that in Toronto, Ottawa -- places where there are some serious drug users -- that we could actually help treat them: get their lives around that corner and save their lives."

The federal government began the process to end Insite's exemption in 2006. It argued the fight against drug addiction would be better focused on prevention and treatment, as well as tougher laws to curb drug dealing.

Portland Hotel Society, the group that operates the site, filed suit in 2007 to keep the centre open, arguing its closure would be a violation of Insite users' rights, because without the site, they would be at risk of a fatal overdose.

"This group is a very hardcore drug user group. These people used to be in and out of hospital all the time with huge hospitalization rates, high rates of HIV, hepatitis C and of course death," said Hedy Fry, MP for Vancouver Centre who has been involved with the centre since the beginning.

"The bottom line is we wanted to save lives, decrease mortality and drop hospitalization rates."

The court sided with the Insite team. When the federal government appealed to the B.C. Court of Appeal, the decision was upheld. So in February, 2010, Ottawa appealed the ruling to the Supreme Court.

Comments are now closed for this story

Tim
said
0 0

I love how people who don't see the facts spew there ideology all over these comments. Please, for everyone's sake, open your minds and read up !

chuck
said
0 0

To "Law Abiding Citizen" - to truly abide by the law, you have to first understand it a bit. BC police and health care professionals set up a legal programme, using a legal exemption, in order to address drug addiction responsibly - as the disease it is and not the crime too many well intentioned hypocrites like to make it. No business opportunity - but a load of common sense. Get over it.

Ross BC
said
0 0

I think if we look at this in a different light and an open mind we can appreciate why this can have support.Imagine a young child abused, neglected runs away from home struggeling to make ends meet he/she gets cought on the "wrong tracks" gets involved in a gang, prostitution, drugs and develops a serious addiction to heroin. Are we as a society to push these people away again and again, when they need us the most?Some people suggest just lock them up. Great lets do that and throw away the key and pay a great deal of money doing it. Giving them a further degree in Criminality.This will save lives and REDUCE COSTS of prisons and crime.. I just hope the program can go a step further and really manage and help these people to get off the drugs or wean them off slowly in away that won't kill them or cause them to snap..

the big gulp
said
0 0

I sure hope Steve didn't get so upset he locked himself in the bathroom.

Greg Carlson
said
0 0

The conservatives should be happy with this decision, it saves them money & makes the streets & play grounds safer for their kids. But from reading the comments on here their tin foil hats have turned bright red & there's smoke coming out of their ears.

Law Abiding Citizen
said
0 0

Let me make sure I understand this. The Supreme Court says it is OK to use illegal drugs if you do it at a Safe Injection Site. Sounds like a great Business Opportunity has just been legalized. No not the buying and sell of illegal drugs, but rather the running of the now Legalized Crack Houses.

Hypocrisy
said
0 0

This fight against these centers orchestrated by hypocrite 'puritan' conservative is just ridiculous. I wish they would spent more time and energy to destroy and arrest individuals who make money on drugs instead of sending to jail the mentally ill users.

M Birch
said
0 0

Shut them down. We don't need to encourage these people to use , they need to get some backbone instead and face up to life instead of hiding behind drug use.

Patrick
said
0 0

The Harper government needs to step back and stay out of provincial issues. As the Feds has taken the position that they dont want to fund healthcare properly and want also to offload heathcare and policing costs they should keep their noise out of BC's business. You cannot have your cake and eat it to!

Vancouver Guy
said
0 0

Before people comment, they should do their homework first. Insite does have treament and access to treament in it's facilities. It opens the door first by providing a safe environment. No one is saying that providing needles solves drug addiction, it's harm reduction and then hopefully, with the services provided, addicts will be able to work their way out of the problem. Addiction is a disease whether you choose to believe it or not. People are so black and white it's ridiculous, stop simplifying a much more complex issue. But isn't that the essence of conservatism anyways? Sorry, had to say it.

Pete in Victoria
said
0 0

Just wanted to say I favour this decision.One doesn't have to favour drug abuse to be supportive of efforts to help drug addicts be safe and find support to beat their addiction.Good job, Supreme Court!

peter in BC
said
0 0

I live in Vancouver and I have seen first hand how Insite benefits the community and the users alike. Without understanding what the drug use problem created in Vancouver before you comment, understand that I know what the downtown core and east side were like and trust me, Insite is a huge benefit to the community and the businesses as crime is down significantly and very few users require hospitalization. The downtown core was a complete mess and now it is well on its way to being respectable. Don't downplay the significance of this centre unless you live in or have visited the downtown core/east side. Set your minds to "open" and understand all the facts. Yes, drug use is frowned upon by many (including myself) but you need to understand what life was like for those people before this centre was opened. It has helped in so many way and Harper needs to get over it. Focus on managing Canada and not Vancouver.

Rob Boyd
said
0 0

Harm Reduction saves lives, saves money (costly treatment) and connects people to health and other addictions services. It isn't a question of harm reduction vs. treatment vs. prevention...we need them all and more of them.
Regardless of whether you believe it or not, addiction is not a choice. People who use insite have experienced overdose, HIV, prison, have been repeatedly assaulted (including by police)and yet they continue to use: that's addiction. If they could stop they would.
Prisons do not stop drug use, they perpetuate it. Prisons spread HIV and Hep C and prisons interfere with recovery from addictions.

The Conservatives are wanting to do more to curb childhood abuse and I applaud them for that. People who need services like incite are those same children 20-30 years later.

We care about them when they are 6, why don't we care about them when they are 36?

We failed them then, and we are not going to fail them now.

It is a huge challenge for a drug user to overcome their addiction. How much easier that recovery would be without the stigma and oppression of criminalization to overcome as well.

Robert South, Sudbury ON
said
0 0

I am very disappointed that some Canadians think it is appropriate to provide needles for illegal drug abusers and not provide them for diabetics. My late mother-in-law was a diabetic and had to purchase her own needles. She had considered re-using needles. My wife informed that we would purchase them if necessary. I suspect that there are many law abiding citizens in a similar situation as that of my late mother-in-law. Shame! Shame! Canada.

Jaid in Toronto
said
0 0

There's a thousand hacking away at the branches of evil to one who strikes the root. The Cons were incorrect in striking the wrong root which is to stop the safe injection, but the thousands of laws tackling illegal drugs and abuse only hacks away at the branches. If they're looking to strike the root, it is organized drug crime and trafficking, which they only have a law, not a force..

Really Now?
said
0 0

This is great news for the MMAR. :) Thank God that judges regardless of political affiliation have common sense. The Conservative HC is totally against sick people!

Margaret
said
0 0

"Eggroll", nurses are not administering the drugs, nor is Insite providing them. The users bring their own drugs and administer them themselves. Let's not be spreading misinformation.

Tom in Vancouver
said
0 0

@northerdancer We don't elect supreme court judges because their decisions are meant to be objective and bi-partisan. They uphold the basic rights of our society, and the will of our society can shift to violate inherent human rights with populist political movements. That's why we have a constitution and an independent court to safeguard it.As for your claim that they aren't democratically legitimate. The vote was unanimous and 2 of the 9 justices were appointed by your beloved elected Stephen Harper.Maybe the next time you have the urge to rip down one of the fundamental pillars of our society you should read the constitution first. Then figure out why it's there, and who's actually working inside it.

Annoyed_MTL
said
0 0

To all of you who think that the safe injection sites are bad... Why don't you read one of those peer reviewed articles. An addict will be an addict whether these sites exist or not. The difference is that with access to sites like this, it allows them to shoot up more safely. They are not encouraging drug use, they are simply promoting a safer, clean site in which to do it. All of those who oppose. Well, let's take this hypothetical situation. You're at the park with your kid, and your kid gets poked with a needle lying in the sand. Would you rather this scenario, or people going to a site to do what they were going to do anyways in a public place. Read the damn article people. Lower overdose rates, lower crime, lower disease rates... Yes, it is controversial but stop putting your personal morals and values ahead of the facts. These sites do nothing to encourage drug use and they do not increase the incidence of people using heroin. You cannot lock all of these people up, and you cannot force them to go into detox. And even if you did do so, the majority of them wouldn't stay clean the day after they're discharged. Clearly you have never seen the first hand effects of addiction. ......

floyd mcg
said
0 0

This is a good decision, the only reason why people do not support this decision is ideology. What i think is great is that it was a unanimous decision, which means it was supported by the two latest appointed judges, which were appointed by PM SH.

Malcolm
said
0 0

The real best answer to this entire thing is just say NO teach your kids early that this will kill you, this isn't some kind of game you can play for a while, this will kill you dead in the ground dead, and if you suspect something then act quickly. Teach your kids right and wrong, quit being some kind of friend to your kids and start telling kids the truth. Drugs KILL simple

Enough misinformation!
said
0 0

Do any of you people against this safe injection site have a clue as to what's going on here? First off, zip your lips if you're not educated enough about what safe injection sites or needle exchange programs provide, and just how the clients and you - the taxpayer, DO benefit from them. Your narrow mindedness is so typically biased you should be ashamed of yourselves. If you take places like this out of communities, you WILL see an increase in the number of new HIV and other illnesses. You WILL see an increase in drug-related crimes. You WILL see an increase in people with drug addictions. There WILL be an increase in drug-related homelessness, and more "crack" houses or similar locations will begin popping up. All of these WILL cost you as a taxpayer a whole lot more that the few minutes of effort it WILL take you to get the facts before you express uneducated and ridiculously misinformed opinions about these services and their clients. Shame on the whole lot of you!

Thank the gods
said
0 0

Time for the religious far right to crawl back under the rock of ignorance they came from...and don't let the church door hit you on the way out...

Malcolm
said
0 0

I would love to get a honest vote from drug users themselves, who actually want to get off drugs and use these places for help or how many use these places to just get cheap drugs and have no ambition to stop using drugs.

Guy
said
0 0

If you legalize the injection site you must legalize the drugs.

lop
said
0 0

I love the ignorance of many. I love the quickness to lump all drugs together into one group. Il ove how people think Dope 7 Smack are teh same, with the same effects.. I love how quick we are to distance ourselves from smack addicts, and I love how quick we are to shove it off to another district.

People who know, understand. People who don't seem to know and preach..

Dixie from Alberta
said
0 0

So the Supreme Court judges won't mind if one is opened up next door to where they live or work? Or for that matter anyone who is in favour of this place?

JD, Ottawa
said
0 0

Finally facts, science, and experts win. Ideology always loses to these in the end.

Daniel in Ottawa
said
0 0

Some people say the courts shouldn't overrule elected politicians. I say we've just proven exactly why we need them to do exactly that sometimes. To protect us from governments with narrow or populist agendas, or without the guts to stand up for what's obviously the right thing to do. This is a great decision for everyone.

Just stop wasting money on this
said
0 0

Watch they will try to change how statistics are gathered again to try and make it look like drug use is on the rise, and people are dying because of this facility. That will be their "review" so they can try again to shut it down. Some people cannot simply accept facts and common sense when it goes against warped opinions that are based on emotion and fear.

Wendy
said
0 0

The Canadian Medical Association are pleased with the decision & their opinion is the only one that really matters those against this decision are ignorant of the facts, something under that tin foil their is making it hard to understand that these sites are a good thing. Hopefully one pops up in a neighborhood near you.

devils advocate
said
0 0

I'm glad they are finally accepting that whether or not you approve of the "morality" of such a facility that aspect is not the pertinent question when deciding the facility's "worthiness" to remain open. The question is whether BC, as the arbiter of providing health and social services in the province can operate a facility that has been proven to help with the specific public health concerns and massive monetary and social costs surrounding addiction and drug use. Trust me the BC government neither likes nor supports people it considers "unworthy" but when it comes to cutting costs associated to social and health services they are lions. Since Insite clearly saves massive dollars from social services and health care budgets maybe those dollars can be redirected back to the services for the disabled that were gutted in previous BC government attempts to save money.

Niagara George
said
0 0

And the final score is... Rational Common Sense - 9... Steve and Friends - 0!! Let's hope that when the first cases from the new dumb on crime bill reach the Supreme Court, the outcome is the same. Of course, then we will start to hear even more nonsense about having elected judges. Thankfully, this is Canada, in spite of our last election. Gold business cards and continued poor judgement by the PM and others, will hasten the day clear-thinking logic returns to our great land.

BigD
said
0 0

I see the Liberal loonies are still running the country!So when will the governments start froking over free stuff for those who use insulin and other LEGAL drugs and medicines?THis is WRONG!

back and to the left
said
0 0

The decision was unanimous and two of the Supreme Court Justices were appointed by Stephen Harper. There's nothing like a good slap in the face to wake a person (except Steve) up. I hope Little Stevie gets so upset he takes his ball and goes home... again, but for good this time.

Read the Reasons!
said
0 0

It never fails to amaze me how little the average person understands about our political system. Most on here seem to think we are just a democracy and not a constitutional one. News flash, there are rules even the government has to follow when making decisions or legislation. If people would have bothered to read the 159 paragraphs of the SCC's reasons for judgement and not just news headlines they would see that the SCC actually held that the Federal legislation was valid and that Insite is bound by it. The only thing that was held not to be constitutional was the way the Minister made the decision not to renew the exemption, so they are forcing the Minister to grant one. But the Court also went so far as to say that in the future if the Gov't decides not to renew the exemption that may be fine, they just have to come to that decision correctly, i.e. according to the constitution. That's okay though, don't let the Court's reasoned answer get in the way of blindly bashing anyone whose views oppose yours.

floyd mcg
said
0 0

Drug addiction is a disease, I think most experts agree. I think the disagreement lies. Conservative ideology does not categorize drug addiction as a disease and believes it should be punished rather than treated. Closing down Insite would mean removing an effective way of controlling the disease, reducing deaths and disease, providing treatment and ultimately cure the disease.

Brian in Sask
said
0 0

Just when you think our courts were starting to do something right for our country, our judges all of a sudden take a slip on that wet stuff rolling out from their pant legs. BC has truely become the butt end of our country. BC..It doesnt stand for Bring Cash, stands for Bring COKE.

Prof Cream Puff
said
0 0

Well, intelligence and common sense did prevail and Canada is once more showing its desire to cater not only to the well to do but to ALL Canadians, unlike our Government. Thank you SCC for preserving the values of this land and not succumb to the pressure of the miserable few who are too self centered to think of anyone else.

DM
said
0 0

I really don't understand some of you people, it's obvious that some of you have never been addicted to anything. Even taking cigarettes as an exmaple, when I quit smoking, I had nightmares for 2 months about me cheating on the fact that I had quit. There is a psychological addiction that lasts longer then the physical one.If you think putting someone in jail or in a detox center is going to stop their drug habbit you are ignorant to the situation. No one quits any habit forming durg unless THEY want to, you wanting them to isn't going to do a thing!

Robert in Burnaby
said
0 0

I really don't think opponents to the safe injection site have really done research as to what this represents. This site doesn't promote drug-use, doesn't promote crime, and doesn't promote suicide. It's a safe site where a medical professional is on hand to make sure these drug addicts (that would be using these drugs anyway) are monitored and survive. Having seen drug addicts convulsing along the street near Hastings & Main as I bus in to work, it's so much better to have a site like this where ambulances are not having to be dispatched to the scene every hour or so. This just makes sense on so many levels.

northerndancer99@hotmail.com
said
0 0

From reading these commments it seems that either 80 percent of the population are either,A: big fans/supporters of drug addicts orB:drug users themselves, so of course they want these 'poor addicts' coddled by the SCC. Funny thing is, I don't remember electing any supreme court judges to represent my wishes but I do recall voting for my choice of government in a federal election a few months back. I say elect the judges as well so we can kick them to the curb.

Doug ^^^ BC
said
0 0

For those of you posting comments without the facts. This program does get people of drugs, it does save lives, and for my Tory friends - it saves you money.

One Eggroll - Ottawa
said
0 0

Just wondering .. we are in need of "nurses" in hospitals here in Ontario anyhow..where are these nurses coming from to administer the drugs at these centers...who is to decide if all drugs brought in are "safe" ones...will the Government be responsible if any one of these drug users die from not having safe drugs after all it will be a nurse hired by the Government who administers it. If the Premiers decide that these sights are okay in their Province then one hopes they are set up right beside their office. Strange how in cities they set up such buildings in an area that one does not choose to walk anywhere near ..but unfortunately their are many living where they can afford and many good hard working people, so I suggest they be put up in an area where the rich live....

Robert Rudachyk
said
0 0

Thomas Aquinas wrote:Addiction is NOT a desease, it is something the brain creates because of the pleasurable response to chemicals. Physical addiction passes in 3 days of detox, the real addiction is that some people haven't the strength of character to move on once the physical symptoms pass. Well sir, obviously you have never known anyone who has an addiction to anything. Having had the experience in my life of knowing many addicts, I can say truthfully that it is a disease. If you doubt my words, try it yourself, get addicted to a drug and then try to quit. Let's see how strong your moral character is.You sir are the fool!

Craig from NS
said
0 0

A unanimous decision by the Supreme Court of Canada, which has three conservative appointed judges, should speak volumes to those who are against this program. I have no opinion one way or the other, as I do not have a lot of information about it. However, the masses here appear to have no information and scream that it was a bad decision. You cannot even say it was the left leaning justices. Perhaps the justices have a much better understanding than Joe/Jane Canuck.

RECOVERING JUNKIE
said
0 0

Everyone makes mistakes in their lives & lord knows that I am one of them .. 425 days sober & I thank god everyday for that .. These sites are AMAZING! Where I am from is too small for them. I think people need to open their eyes & realize these are good if addicts have people around them like that it DOES help them see that they can change .. when people show an effort in helping addicts it shows us that we are not alone & people do care about us .. I think its amazin that the site is staying open.

Joe Szentirmay
said
0 0

Who should be creating legislation,elected governments or activist judges?This ruling declares that heroin use and addiction is acceptable in Canada.Would anyone in their right mind give an alcoholic son or daughter a bottle of booze?Well this is what the Supreme Court of Canada has done,they are an absolute disgrace!Even reformed heroin addicts will tell you that these sites are a bad idea,but then again,what do they know.

grizzybear
said
0 0

i can't believe how many judgemental people are posting here. you think you know better than the professionals? harper clones, i guess

Turren
said
0 0

Legalize the use of drugs in drug houses; charge the users and tax the proceeds. The drug lords get rich, so there must be money to be realized. Then houses like this would pay for themselves, and the people that are going to use drugs anyways would have a legal stand and a safe environment while keeping the needles and pipes off the playgrounds.

Bob N
said
0 0

Doesn't this raise the question: Why are the rules different for the users in Vancouver different from the users in other provinces. Where I live if I got caught possessing illegal drugs I would get charged. Justice for all just not equal

reidjr
said
0 0

Amanda C
Thats the thing this is not helping them if anything this is feeding there addication.As for saving money no not really this program would cost a massive amount of money to run.

Dave Ludlow
said
0 0

Don`t worry this will not cost taxpayers. It will not prevent the Harper government from recooping the cost of the new jails. There are well financed US firms that will buy them from the government. These firms are convinced that crime will increase in Canada in spite of this facility staying open.

Matt
said
0 0

well judging by responses alot of you know nothing, what is giving an addict their drugs supposed too do? thats like an alcoholic that wants too stop getting doses of alcohol?.... if your addicted too drugs like that you have too stop and that usually happens when u hit rock bottom. i dont understand how giving an addict the drug their addicted too is supposed too help... when u want too quit u quit its that simple

Don K
said
0 0

Stephen Harper's new motto: "Are there no prisons? Are there no work houses?"

angry canadian
said
0 0

Next move: supervised shelter for sex maniacs. They need help, too. They're human, you know? STOP WASTING MY TAX MONEY!

Tony
said
0 0

So whats next? Safe impaired driving lanes?

HKP in Vancouver
said
0 0

Common sense 9....Harper 0........

Proud Albertan
said
0 0

But wait lets not stop there! how about we start creating safe body dumping sites for murders! we wont actually STOP the murders but we can at least it will be out in the open and we will know it right? But wait dont stop there lets create a street for prostitution! just one street again we wont actually solve the problem but hey at least we know where it is right? I do NOT agree with this one bit! your not actually solving the problem by just putting a roof over the crack addicts head to shoot up you are just encouraging it! and for those of you who claim it saves money bottom line your spending money whatever route you take! i for one say you arrest every single one of them that come out of that facility! let them shoot up but the second your back on the street right to jail! you force them to get clean educate and reintegrate them back into society!

Prof. Pye Chartt
said
0 0

Only a wealthy and advanced society content to rest on inexcusable FAILURE rationalizes that it is "moral" to coddle drug addicts and feed their life-destroying habit. Great; thanks to the SCC, we can now continue with an "immoral" NON-SOLUTION to the problem at hand. This "victory" still renders everyone, especially downtrodden drug addicts, a loser. Sad.

Ker
said
0 0

Two months ago, I found a crack pipe and 2 dirty needles in a park where my daughter plays, directly across the street from my house. I live in suburbia, in a great neighborhood, and never expected to find THAT under the swings. I'm fully aware that drugs are everywhere, and there's no escaping it, no matter where you live, but I would rather users go to a safe place, and more importantly, dispose of their needles in a safe way. Providing users needles can cut the cost to medicare, by reducing
the risk of spreading disease, and keeping non users safe. The cost of a few needles is far less than treating an addict for hepatitis, or HIV.
I also believe that the nurses at these facilities build a relationship with users, making them more likely to ask for help.

Margaret
said
0 0

It appears that some people did not read the entire article. The facility provides counselling and referrals to services, including an on-site detox centre! These people are getting information they may not otherwise get on getting clean. Insite is saving lives!

Jason Daniel Baker, Toronto
said
0 0

This is a case of the government winning by losing. They'll inevitably be forced to do the right thing here instead of something that appeals to the knee-jerk far-right in their base of support.They can then say that they tried their best but that the courts foiled them. We can be thankful that the more extreme notions entertained by this government can still be curbed not merely for Canadians but for the good of the current governing party which will continually swerve to the far-right if unchecked.

Rob
said
0 0

If Amanda had her way, we'd all be drug addicted morons. Put criminals, where criminals belong IN JAIL, not walking the streets. I wonder if she would say the same if one of these criminals got one of her children addicted to a drug. Hmmm well she would probably think that was OK.

trunorth
said
0 0

Precisely what is wrong with our society. When things were somewhat normal, we had a SCC that INTERPRETED the laws that PARLIAMENT passed. Now, the SCC has taken it upon itself to CHANGE laws if they don't agree with parliament. What do we need parliament for?

CJD in YYC
said
0 0

I accept this decision because there are peer reviewd articles published to support the claims of supporters that this place saves lives. The cons have provided NO peer-reviewed scientific evidence in their arguments to support their position that places like these promote drug use, but continue to spout their ususal rhetoric based purely on emotions and out of touch with reality. Until that data can be provided I will continue to support safe injection because there is no objective evidence for the counter arguement at this time, and hope that they are provided in all cities across Canada. When scientific evidence to the contrary is provided, I will then be able to reconsider my position.

Rob
said
0 0

Yeah, score another victory for the criminals. I am sick and tired of people using excuses! I'm addicted to this, I'm addicted to that. When one chooses (AND IT IS A CHOICE) to put garbage into one�s body, then they suffer the consequences. If that is illegal drugs then, so be it. If you're caught in possession, then you should be charged. If it's smoking and you get cancer, don't be surprised and don't look for sympathy. We all make choices and these people have made the wrong ones.

Frieda Q. Vancouver
said
0 0

Hmmm. The poverty cycle, homelessness, addiction and the problems caused by de-institutionalization are clearly out of your grasp here, responders... or did they not teach you right-wingers that in bible school? If you want to de-humanize those who lack the capability to function within the parameters of Canadian society, do so with the information and knowledge to form an argument that doesn't SUCK. P.S Your argument is moot if it is PLAGUED with spelling mistakes and grammatical errors.

Jim in Ottawa
said
0 0

This ruling makes no sense. What the court has said is that the federal government, who created the exemption in the first place, is not allowed to let that exemption expire? But the federal government created it in 2003! How can that moment of creation be so bullet-proof that it can never be called into question again? And is this truly the social outcome we want? For decades, we've been vilifying the dangers of smoking, making it harder and harder for smokers to have access to tobacco products or to use them publicly, and its been working--smoking rates are down to about 20% of Canadians from 50% in the 1950s. Why do we seem to moving the opposite direction with more dangerous and addictive drugs like those used at this injection site? There is an enormous double-standard here and I believe the federal government has the moral and legal right to step in and shut it down in the best interests of society. They created it in the first place--it makes not one iota of sense that they cannot shut it down. The courts are wrong on this one.

John Merriam
said
0 0

The supreme court justices must have been on something.

James T.
said
0 0

Well, it appears it's en vogue in Canada to reward bad people with Taxpayer's Dollars for committing criminal acts. Disgusting!

Aikidokaguy
said
0 0

Drug use/abuse should be treated as a medical condition, and NOT as a criminal activity. Jailing people for the misuse of controlled substances is akin to jailing obese people to fight diabetes

Bill, Vancouver
said
0 0

Great, another irrational decision by our left leaning Supreme Court! The people of Canada voted for the Conseratives, hopefully to get some common sense put back into Canada's laws. Get rid of those high paid Supreme Court Judges and let's get judges in there who exercise common sense for a change!

Sherylee Harper
said
0 0

GOOD! I always like to see the current administration getting kicked in the backside. And when something so vital to the community is given an opportunity to survive and continue to give aid and comfort to it's citizens all the better.

Mike New Westminster
said
0 0

It's truly sad to see that so many people - not to mention our Conservative government - would rather shut an extremely successful public health initiative and continue to push a viewpoint which is no longer legitimate in any sense, having been well and truly debunked. Arguing against a safe-injection site may have once been legitimate, but after years of clinical research at Insite confirmed what decades of clinical research at similar sites in Europe found:

1) Supervised Injection Sites do not promote drug use; rather; residents of the community who use the Insite facility are almost 40% MORE likely to get clean and stay off drugs for one year than residents who do not use Insite (both groups are injection cocaine/heroin users). This is due to the increased contact with health professionals

2) A conservative estimate for the offset ratio between Insite's operating costs and resultant health care savings to the province (due to decreased Hep C and HIV transmissions, abscesses, overdoses, and ER visits, over a 25 year period is 75 to 1, or $75.00 returned over 25 years per $1.00 spent on Insite (50% recoup within 5 years). Again, that's 75 to 1.

These are FACTS. Not theories. FACTS. Proven over 20 years across two continents and tens of thousands of addicted people. The argument is over, the evidence is in, that's it.

Insite costs the taxpayer nothing; in fact it returns a significant profit to the taxpayer.

Insite does not promote drug use; it promotes abstinence as a goal and safety as a prudent course of action. It results in abstinence through Onsite, it's detox center, and outreach work.

Those are the facts.

and prolong a debate which may have been somewhat undecided ten years ago, because the research on European supervised injection sites may

CB_guy_NS
said
0 0

Wow, a lot of the arguments on here sound amazingly like the ones thrown around during prohibition and we all know how that worked out. Given the fact that most ministers in the federal government come from well to do families or big business (ie upper class), how can they represent the middle and lower class. This country is run by big money for the benefit of business.

mike
said
0 0

every time I hear a quote from a conservative MP... I think my lord, what a bunch of hicks.(including the quote in this story)

Jim - North Saanich, BC
said
0 0

This decision effectively sanctions what is, by legal definition, already a crime. The individuals in need of this facility have broken the law not only through the acquisition of illicit drugs but have likely as not engaged in other criminal activities in order to pay the dealers.

We as a nation are going to have to come to grips with the issue of illicit drugs. Either we totally legalize them such as Portugal has done and deal with the consequences of addiction which in that country has apparently dropped since legalization or we implement measures such as Singapore did upon becoming an independent city state. Both alternatives arguably work. I know from actual experience that I would far rather walk the streets of Singapore anytime than I would Vancouver, Calgary or even Victoria becasue the drug-fuelled, often violent, street crime simply isn't there.

To have the SCC, in effect, legalize a serious criminal act is a paradox I can not reconcile logically nor do I believe others can either and that needs to be addressed now.

Amanda C
said
0 0

I think the conservatives are so outraged that they're helping addicts, that they've completely lost sight of the fact that it's helping the community as well. No one wants to pay to care for 800 people with HIV and no one wants needles on the streets. That's that.

David
said
0 0

This shows upt the Supreme Court of Canada for who they really are, no longer representing law abiding Canadian citizens; when can we start electing our judges?

bev muendel-atherstone
said
0 0

The Supreme Court 9 to 0 ruling shows that reason and good research can triumph over mean spirited idiology. Perhaps the Supreme Court does work as a check and balance in Canada, at least in this instance.

Ian Ottawa
said
0 0

I don't understand bleeding heart advocates that support the use and distribution of illegal substances. You want to inject these addicts to safe money then make it a lethal injection. It is what they are aiming for themselves. Get rid of the weaker of the species and move forward instead of prolonging a life that is being self abused. Sorry if this hurts your feelings but life is precious only if it is cherished by the living.

karen in calgary
said
0 0

This is terrible news. This is nothing more than enabling at the cost of the taxpayers. I support methodone clinics, but not this. Now what incentive do these people ever have to quit you just made illegal drug use legal and acceptable. And they wonder why this problems keeps growing in Vancouver.

Doug
said
0 0

Assisted suicide is illeagal, but the Supreme court of Canada is helping kill people by letting them inject drugs that kill.

Karl
said
0 0

This is great news, I'm happy we have educated people making these decisions.

Sid
said
0 0

@Thomas Aquinus 25 years of detox, AA, counseling & 6 treatment centers didn't help me recovery from life in hell from alcohol addiction. One joint a day has kept me away from alcohol for 8 years now, my life is fantastic compared to the low life scum bag that alcohol turned me into. What ever works, these people are given opportunities to get clean with the insight program. Trillions spent on the war on drugs has been a failure. Only those short on the learnin would want to keep wasting money on something that hasn't worked in forty years.

Bob Loblaw
said
0 0

All of you opposed to inSite must not be taxpayers. Would you rather go back to the huge costs we were shouldering in our healthcare system due to overdoses and AIDS?

Do you have any idea just how much it costs to treat one OD in the emergency department, or one HIV positive person? These costs are staggering.

I AM A TAXPAYER. I want my tax dollars spent in the most efficient way possible. Those saying that InSite should be closed are basically saying to the government "please, tax me more. I would rather pay millions to treat IV drug related HIV cases than thousands to prevent them in the first place.

'Conservative', my foot.

Ron
said
0 0

I find it interesting that the 9 judges of the highest court in our country are unanimous one way while the government is unanimous the other and the population is divided about the same way as it on electing this government. Is this a criminal or a health issue? Canada is a work in progress. What was a crime yesterday may not be tomorrow and the reverse is true also. Are junkies criminals or victims of other misbehavior or disorder? When I read the comments posted here, I ask myself, 'How can so many people be so sure about something so complex?' Let us thank these judges for giving ourselves a chance of experimenting and learning so that we may continue to progress.

sam williamson
said
0 0

Since this program is working so well, and has the support of the High Court, would anybody object if Canadian cities shipped their drug addicts out to Vancouver so that the rest of us could benefit from harm reduction? All in favour say "Aye."

oddmelee
said
0 0

Close down all Detox centers--why are we promoting drug use--let them get clean ---help them don't give them a place to shoot up you are not helping them --and I agree with the gentleman who said his wife had to pay for her needles for diabetic--my granddaughter has to pay for hers help people get free needles for diabetis --People on drugs choose to do drugs --treat them-- not keep them on drugs

sidPE
said
0 0

Well, at least the low income diabetics can still get their syringes for free. The courts seem to care more about illegal users than the ones that never chose their illness.

Batman
said
0 0

So Harper wants to close down the safe injection sites because supposedly they promote drug use. Is Harper planning on closing all the fast food places around Canada because they promote obesity?

RonPaul2012
said
0 0

The government should not be funding drug "safe" injection sites. People should be responsible for their own behaviour. If a person dies by overdose, that's not the government's fault. The government cannot protect people from their own stupidity.

Quiggs_in_SK
said
0 0

RGO in Montreal pretty much sums up conservative thinking...and that is pretty scary. Here's to hoping they don't acheive the police state they would like to have. Thank God for facts, compassion, and rational thinking.. too bad conservatives hate that so much.

Amanda C
said
0 0

This is great news. The site definitely helps the lives of many. It also saves us dollars in the long run by preventing disease and infection. Not sure why some people are so hostile about helping others. The Earth is round we won't fall of with lefti policies. It's the right doing all the destruction. If that site was banned we'd have more people going to jail which we pay for, more healthcare costs and we'd take away even more hope from people who already have nothing. The right needs to wake up & realize that change is good, instead of acting like medieval barbarians. Progress is admirable and courageous and obviously the right is lacking.

SteveinToronto
said
0 0

I though illegal drug use was..well..ILLEGAL. Now we have the top court in the land endorsing a crime. WOW. If we can get them to endorse Rioting, the rest of the fools in Vancouver will be free to go and do whatever they want to do. Or how about break and enter? Or murder? When will SCC be endorsing those crimes?

Thomas Aquinus
said
0 0

Dave, you are spouting off a political slogan, not facts. Addiction is NOT a desease, it is something the brain creates because of the pleasurable response to chemicals. Physical addiction passes in 3 days of detox, the real addiction is that some people haven't the strength of character to move on once the physical symptoms pass. You, sir, are a fool.

Doug
said
0 0

Here we go again, A court that keeps insisting that it's function is to interpret law is making a significant statement on a social isue that clearly flies in the face of present federal law. This is not about individual charter rights. This is about a conservative, elected government's ability to decide a course of action in the fight against the use of illegal, destructive, substances. This must be a great day for Vancouvers dealers and pimps.

Jon in London ON
said
0 0

From my lay position as an individual, and not a doctor of medicine or psycology, my understanding of drug addiction is that if left unbroken, an addict probably will shorten their life. To provide a "healthy atmosphere" for an addict to continue their addiction is the height of political correctness. A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.

S.Kennedy
said
0 0

I don't understand how drug addicts get free needles while those with disease that require insulin don't. Is this really fair? Diabetics did not choose their disease! While it is safer to shoot up in a controlled and clean situation, keeping used needles out of playgrounds and public places is the benefit. Maybe more spending for getting the addicts off their asses and cleaning up their act instead of sucking money out of the govt'????? Do ya think??? Or heres a novel idea! Maybe more money spent on breaking up drug rings and keeping narcotics off the streets and helping the addicts kick their habit and reintegrating into society. Maybe they could give insight and help for the currently "using" addicts!

Spike
said
0 0

Now the SOC is an enabler. Do you really believe an addict will catch the bus or take a cab to Insite to fix?You folks should take a stroll down Hastings St and check out where a good majority fix its on the street and in the parks. This just another part of the downtown east side "cottage industry" where there are a lot of people employed.East Ender

Taylor
said
0 0

The only sensible thing left to do is for the federal government to order RCMP officers to patrol the sidewalk outside the centre and arrest and charge anyone caught in possession of illegal drugs.

Timothe
said
0 0

Glad to see our top courts haven't joined the corruption path of the conservatives. Good to be Canadian today :D

See ya
said
0 0

"IGNORANCE is alive and well and on the rise in canada. use to be such a great place to liveI agree. Feel free to move somewhere less ignorant.

Elizabeth
said
0 0

So these unelected judges have decided that the federal parliament no longer has the power to create and enforce criminal law. No wonder voter turnout in this country is at an all-time low. Our democratically elected representatives have less and less influence over public policy. Very disturbing.

Robert B
said
0 0

I say let the Supreme court pay to keep it open out of their own pockets too. Who the hell is running this country Our elected representatives or the Supreme court Mullas????

allan
said
0 0

OK, then let the city of Vancouver provide all of the funding and leave the Canadian taxpayer alone.Druggies should be allowed to perish if they so desire

full_instructor
said
0 0

Safe injection sites? Sorry but once an alcoholic always an alcoholic. Once a drug user always a drug user. This makes little to no sense at all to give them a place so they can share with each other, suppler names. The drugs lords much be laughing at how stupid our society is. Give the users a place to slowly kill themselves. For all you supporters of this idea, give me some solid stats for users going straight. All this is an assisted suicide center, nothing more.

Lane
said
0 0

This ruling is an outrage. There is nothing in the Constitution that gives the Supreme Court to pass judgement on the success or failure of public policies, or to allow the provinces to override criminal laws made by the federal government.

Norman Ouston in Armstrong BC
said
0 0

Well, this high court decision will certainly make the drug dealers rejoice. Business will be thriving in the drug selling actions. The motorcycle gangs will hold a party. The cartels supplying drugs to these losers will open another branch and probably have a bargain sale for a few days.What a disgusting situation.

Raj
said
0 0

The rights of drug users.We are all paying for their rights! Oh MY !

Bob in Cornwall
said
0 0

Here we go again. The courts are runnimg the country. Let's move on to government funded drinking sites and gambling sites and prostitute sites, etc. This country is moving so far left it will fall off the edge of the world.

Dave T Moncton
said
0 0

In addition @ THOMAS addiction is a disease something one has to fight with the medication of RECOVERY i feear for people like you not knowing the differance and working with people inthe DETOX system !!

AC in NB
said
0 0

Wow, sounds like some people posting are on drugs themselves. It's true addiction is a form of disease. Unlike cancer, diabetes ect..., drug addicts tend to do criminal activities to support their HABIT. We need to stop enabling drug users and spend the money on rehab facilities instead. Time to take a different approach.

Dave T Moncton
said
0 0

As a recovering drug addict with almost 1 year clean I can say that having a safe place to shoot up is not a good idea in my personal opinion ..may cut down on the use of dirty needles but the crime will still be there to get the drugs and in a way you are just helping an active addict get his fix. rehab centers with the people who know first hand what the addiction can do to ones life ...I do a 12 step program keeps me being a father friend son husband....If there was places i could go and use safely when i was using i may not have quit ..Hiding under a bridge using was my bottom let them hit theirs !!!!!!

steve
said
0 0

wow. unbeleivable how many people want to throw just about anybody in jail nowadays. IGNORANCE is alive and well and on the rise in canada. use to be such a great place to live.

Mark Sweeney
said
0 0

Insite isn't about providing a site to use illegal drugs, it's about healthcare - preventing the spread of highly infectious and deadly diseases, and it saves millions of dollars in health care costs by doing so.

Craig
said
0 0

Good job by the Supreme Court of Canada. Canada needs to continue to move forward as society, and helping protect the people that need it most is a good start. The "war on drugs" and treating users as criminals hasn't worked, so why do most here want more of the same? This in no way promotes drug use if you're a parent that has actually educated your child about such things. If you want the state to do that for you, you should really look in the mirror, because you're the one promoting it.Complex problems require creative solutions, and the solutions may go many layers deep.

Ms. Vigilante
said
0 0

800 people a day shooting up with needles and probably some with transmittable diseases. This site is desperately needed... for those Vancouverites who oppose, would you rather the 800 folks a day shoot up on the beach? In Stanley Park? Shawnessy? Glad this site is remaining open, sad that even in a forward thinking city like Vancouver... it is this controversial.

Pat
said
0 0

This opens the gates for injection sites all over the country. Drug users waiting to get in. Drug dealers selling their drugs outside...hope the next one isn't on my street but who knows?

IslandGuy
said
0 0

This site is part of the "harm reduction" philosophy of drug use and treatment. Although imperfect, it asks us to do what we can to reduce the possible harm of heroin addiction by creating a place where addicts can inject safely by using clean needles. If this place wasn't doing this, addicts would use, share and reuse needles. And we know that shared needles will increase the spread of life threatening diseases resulting in hugely increased costs to us all to intervene, treat and respond with our medical system to the illnesses. Prevention in my view is always better than intervention. This program is a benefit to us all even if at first glance we don't see that.

RGO in Montreal
said
0 0

Yes, let's shut Insite down! Let's jail all these drug-abusers! Why should we even try to rehabilitate those with mental disorders, throw them in the slammer! The homeless? Throw them in the clink too! Children from broken homes? They're damaged goods anyway, so toss them in too! Pro-choice supporters, pot-smokers, social activists, women's libers - into the Big House with you! GO Harper GO!

RonPaul2012
said
0 0

I thought Conservatives were all about "freedom" and "getting big government off your back" If that's the case then why don't I have the freedom to smoke pot?

retired senior
said
0 0

A sad situation indeed. This does nothing to curb drug abuse. The money would be better spent in creating a form of "detox" centre where addicts are required to attend and also get some form of trade or education training so they can re-integrate back into society. Don't ever forget that those people made a conscious decision to use illegal drugs and this "free injection centre" only justifies that in the eyes of these addicts. Bad decision by the high court.

Niagara George
said
0 0

For a few government dollars, every addict in Vancouver could use a safe injection site. For a thousand times as much, a few addicts could get proper detox and rehabilitation treatment. Enough said... keep the sites open until an alternative can be offered.

Daniel in Ottawa
said
0 0

Curious how much this debate revolves around whether or not this safe-injection site encourages drug use. That's really not the point. They are addicts and they will shoot up regardless.The point is whether this is a benefit to society. I had my doubt at first, but it sounds like all signs point to this being a resounding success - removing dirty needles from parks and school yards, removing drug addicts from the street corner, better health, better neighbourhoods, fewer deaths and disease, plus a detox centre right on site. This is saving people plus TONS of health care money for the taxpayer.Then the Conservative come along with their "we know best" attitude based on nothing but their beliefs. No facts, as usual with this groupI hope the supreme court makes the right decision.

Gumpy
said
0 0

Someone actually said that we should be focussing on arresting the people who are distributing, making and trafficking the drugs. Uh just FYI, allowing people easy access to a place to use these drugs contributes to making it easier for these people to have a community to distribute these drugs to. And do NOT tell me that drugs are not sold at these injection sites because no way would a criminal mind avoid a place with such easy targets to provide their wares to. This is an insult to every person who works and pays taxes so that we can have the good things of life. Our money was never meant to provide a safe place to shoot up, to treat it maybe, but never to shoot up.

Jordan
said
0 0

Wait, drugs are bad?

Patrick Hawkins
said
0 0

I cannot beleive that my wife who is a diabetic, cannot get free needles from the government or anywhere else, but junkies not only get free needles they also get to do it in a safe place. I thought that drugs were illegal. What the hell are these people thinking. My wife did not ask for a disease, these people chose to do drugs, and should therefore be able to face the consequences. Even if that means they overdose.No sympathy here.

Paul ~ Kitchener
said
0 0

"CLOSE THEM ALL DOWN" ! To bring "Illegial Drugs" , from the street , into these government run places to "Shoot Up" is "INSANE at BEST" !These places just assist the "Drug Dealers", to sell, & we the taxpayer provide the place to "Shoot Up". The drug user is a criminal, and is addicted by their own hand, and of their choice ~ NO Tax Money to keep them on the drugs ~ Rehabilitation & Prison is the route.

Don
said
0 0

This is totally ridiculous.... why would anyone come up with booths for these "knot heads". You have a drug problem, that is your problem and not mine. Get a job or volunteer at your local food bank. Perhaps we should have booths for the people that take care of themselves, work for a living and buy their own goods and in these booths we get a 30% reduction of our income tax's.... your all "dough heads"....

B in Ottawa
said
0 0

This so-called safe injection site is an absolute disgrace. There is no such thing as a safe injection of drugs. If the Supreme Court rules against the federal government, they will lose a lot of credibility in my mind. How can any Canadian support this? We're letting some select folks posess dangerous drugs and letting them inject them with no consequences? That is not part of the health-care system, that's government-approved crime taking place, and the federal Conservatives know that's wrong. Hopefully the Supreme Court comes to its senses today and closes that place up for good.

boudreauag
said
0 0

This is not a black and white issue, you cant simply say lock them all up, as the conservatives want. If you think the conservatives are right just look into your own family and you will find someone that would be labeled as a criminal, everyone has one.... as for addiction once again every family has one drugs, or alcohol

jrm
said
0 0

The simplistic approach of our conservative government and their supporters to solving our society's problems(crime, drug, etc...) is to put the person causing these problems in jail. It is simple, and appealing to the general population. Is it effective? Does it help to solve these problems? Who cares? As long as these actions seem to please the general population, all is fine and most important, this way of thinking got them a majority.The fact that these "hard on crime" policies have proven to be ineffective and very costly elsewhere is ignored. It will be years before we , as a society , realize that we went down the wrong path, and we will pay dearly for these costly mistakes.To those who do not agree, my suggestion is to obtain more information and to stop the knee jerk reaction to every ill our society encounters. You might be surprised what you'll find out and maybe realize the sole purpose for our conservative government to act this way, is to take advantage of the people's emotions in order to get elected. The desire to solve or alleviate these problems is non existent

Andrew
said
0 0

So the government is giving away needles for drug users, but insulin users have to purchase their needles. That seems fair. If you break the law your rights are more important.

Thomas Aquinus
said
0 0

The pro side loves to quote cooked up statistics to support their claims but the arguement holds no real facts. Let's consider the facts: the production, marketing, possession and use of illegal drugs is a crime-why should the public be supporting crminal activity? The use of illegal drugs is DANGEROUS-why should we support self destructive behaviour? The In-site facility was engaged in a heroin DISTRIBUTION trial in addition to providing a place to shoot up-this makes Canadians overall criminals for funding and supporting this activity. The simple fact is that addiction is NOT a desease, it is a personal factor. Addicts can break the "habit" if they want to strongly enough. (And those who claim I don't know anything about the subject are themselves out to lunch, I worked in street level detox for 30 years.) Use the funds for detox & councilling and I'll support it. Continue in the enabling, illegal activity and I will lobby to shut you down. This is not a medical issue, regardless of what their proponents claim, it's a legal one. CRIME IS CRIME.

reidjr
said
0 0

David In Ottawa Yes it is promoting drug use now with that said if they set it up in the country no near any housing devlopements etc it may work.

Brandon KW
said
0 0

Although I understand the reasons that many want to see these sites shut down, I think the site is doing more good than bad. Yes we need to control the drug problem. But at the end of the day, isn't controlling the diseases that come along with the use of these drugs worse? These people are going to use drugs either way and at least this way it is guaranteed a way to do it without spreading disease. I think in this case there is no right answer, its just the worse of two evils.

Red Conservative
said
0 0

I've waited 50 years for Canada to grow up & do what's best for our country. We should have no illegal drugs. CTV recently ran an article on the latest British study that shows alcohol does 3 times more harm than heroin or cocaine. Sounds like those short on the learnin would rather have their kids playing with dirty needles in the play grounds. When your kid get poked with a dirty needle & get aids tell me how closing down these sites is working for you. Heroin makes you drowsy, it's effects are exactly the same as the opiate pain killers that your doctor prescribes. Earlier this year they removed some of the Tylenol in the opiate pain killers because the Tylenol was causing liver cancer. For all we know the stuff on the street may be safer it has no Tylenol in it. Alcohol kills far more people than all the illegal drugs, you can buy as much Tylenol as you want & give yourself liver cancer or drink booze till you turn into a raving idiot. The war on drugs creates crime not the effects of the drugs. Grow up people our world could be a much nicer place. trillions spent fighting the drug war, we still have drugs & always will. It needs to be regulated prohibition isn't working, it's throwing away money that could be treating these people.

Sonnet
said
0 0

The local drug laws aren't about stopping drug use as much as creating a conservative image. What's the conservative image? In part, it is about punishing drug users because there's something frightening and disgusting about them, and their presence threatens families. Is this a delusional view? Yes, but enough people believe it that is is politically necessary to uphold the delusion. Of course that's one of many such delusions upon which our civilization is built.

That Guy Down the Street
said
0 0

I think it's pretty safe to say that these studies might have something here. While it might be distasteful to some, sites like this one do definitely prevent overdose deaths and stem the spread of disease.

Looking at the bigger picture, this could be a good idea in the long-run too. With a lot of concern about the spread of epidemics, sites like these help to ensure there is one less source for the spread by ensuring clean needles, etc.

Let's all hope good old Stevie doesn't get his way with this one.

Peter
said
0 0

Why the government should encourage the drug addicts? The government should help there people to give up drugs. No more funding, no more drugs. The government doesn't violates the rights of drug addicts. The addicts have to help themselves. The drug dealers should be punished, send them back from where they came or send them to prison and make them to work in construction, agriculture and other hard jobs, and Canada doesn't need to import workers. Canada doesn't need more nannies or in retailing.We have so many unemployed people or mature ones with no money, and they cannot find jobs.

Brian
said
0 0

Its about time the federal Gov. pulls the plug on these injection sites. I for one do not like seeing my taxes going to illegal drug users. If the province of BC wants so called safe houses for these people to shoot up in, let BC fund it on their own.

Carl
said
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The court will not, and must not, consider whether or not the injection site is good policy. It can only consider whether it is constitutional. Charter rights are not usually interpreted in such as way as to impose a positive duty on the state. So although addicts have a right to "security of the person", that doesn't mean taxpayers have to pay to save them from themselves. It will be even more difficult to argue that the province has the right to provide health care services in a way that violates criminal law. Criminal law is a clear and exclusive federal power, and it would set a destructive precedent to allow the provinces to violate criminal law in the delivery of provincial services.

Dean in Abby
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How can the gov't support an illegal activity? Get rid of this joke of a facility. The addicts have a nice clean place to inject themselves after stealing, selling themselves, etc in order to get the money to support their habit. The only rea winner here is the dealer who sells the drugs to the addicts. How stupid have we as a society have we become? Deal with the real problem which is the courts' reluctance to let the police do their job. Real sentences and fewer hoops to jump through to send the dealers to jail would work better.

Stephen Webster
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So...it's a right to have one's vices catered to?I'd like to know if there is any effort made to address the addiction at these sites. Is there a slippery slope, ie for pedophiles, such that the gov'tneeds to test the legal waters?We should do more positive things for the law abiding folks who don't have addictions. Bathroom graffiti: reality is for those that can't handle drugs.

john in Edmonton
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Spend the money on Treatment. Not a band-aid solution to maintain their addiction.The addiction leads to the high-risk behaviour. Maybe lives are being "saved", but what kind of lives are they living?

G
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Hopefully, the Courts will see how a safe injection site is no good! Fostering addiction is not helping people. Yes, there may be less deaths, but there would be less deaths when people decide to leave the addiction and get help. I do not think drug addicts should be entiltled to a service that keeps these people addicted.

James T.
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The next thing you know, homeowners will be sued because locking their doors violates the rights of "crime workers" to have easy access to a safe & secure workplace.

Amy
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Arresting drug addicts simply for using drugs makes about as much sense as arresting victims of domestic abuse for getting beaten up.If the conservative government truly wants to be "tough on crime" maybe they should focus on the ACTUAL problem - drug dealers and suppliers.

WatWatWat
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If your speedometer says you're going 60 kmh you are probably going 60kmh. If your data shows that you are saving lives then you are probably saving lives. Only the Conservatives want to ignore their data. Nobody is smarter than Lil' Stevie Harper. The hobos don't vote Conservative anyway.

David In Ottawa
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I am in favour of the injection sites. I've lived in cities where there is a high use of these narcotics. Finding used needles on the beach or in playgrounds is not safe for anyone. You are not promoting drug use, but a safer environment for everyone, the user and the resident. Also, put yourself in a parents position, if it's your child with the addiction, at least you would have the comfort knowing your sick child can go somewhere to get a clean needle and help if they want it.

Andrew Stevens
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Sorry, those addicts are criminals. the only choice they should be faced with is whether they want a bed in a psychiatric ward or a bed in a prison cell. Either way, they'll be straight in no time. A few years in prison can do remarkable things.

Mark
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Wow, what wisdom. Encouraging and supporing drug use. Bravo!

Diane
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Instead of wasting our money on injection sites accommodating the addiction these people find themselves in bondage too, we should remove these people to government funded institutions to help them be set free from these addictions instead of reinforcing their addiction. The looney left is behind all these stupid ill conceived policies that do squat to resolve the addiction. Oh yea, but they have their "rights"..... I have worked with these people and reinforcing the addiction is NOT the answer, getting set free is.