Pubdate: Wed, 11 May 2005
Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2005 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact:  http://www.ottawasun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329
Author: John Steinbachs

SIDES AGREE ON CRACK PIPE PLAN

Chief backs program as long as minors excluded

Police Chief Vince Bevan now says he can live with the city's crack pipe
program as long as the kits aren't handed out to youth under 18.

"There's a place for harm reduction," in the fight against drugs, Bevan said
yesterday as he reversed his position on the issue.

Bevan had led the charge against the new city program delivering free crack
pipe kits to drug addicts, but he tempered his criticism this week as Mayor
Bob Chiarelli stepped in with a larger plan to tackle drugs in the
community.

As the chief softened his stance, Dr. Robert Cushman, the city's medical
officer of health, said he's also willing to compromise on the issue and
stop handing out the devices to youth.

"Clearly, I'm not going to jeopardize the program for 2% of our population,"
said Cushman. The compromise between Cushman and Bevan came after the mayor
organized a group of 20 health and community leaders who agreed to begin a
working group focused on fighting drugs in the community.

The group includes Bevan, Cushman, youth and social workers and health
officials like Dr. Jack Kitts of the Ottawa Hospital.

Bevan said the decision to organize a community response to drugs is one of
the benefits that has come out of the debate.

"I give the mayor a good deal of credit for establishing a 'made in Ottawa'
solution that deals with prevention, that deals treatment," said Bevan. "I
think the debate that has gone on about crack pipes has really served us
all."

But even with the compromise, council will still be debating the crack pipe
program today.

Coun. Shawn Little has a motion calling for the program to be put "on ice"
and has refused to remove it from the agenda.

But even Little doubts he will now have the votes to have his motion
debated.

Coun. Jan Harder had opposed the program but now says the city is on the
right track in the fight against drugs. She said what's needed is a
concerted effort to get the province to begin properly funding drug
treatment and education.

POLICE CHAIR HAPPY

"That's what I've always been saying, that the crack pipe program in
isolation of any other program ... it was just the tail wagging the dog,"
said Harder.

Other opponents of the program like Police Services Board chairman and Coun.
Herb Kreling were also happy with the compromise.

"The chief advised me he was taking this position. I support the chief,"
said Kreling. "I think we need to work together."
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MAP posted-by: Josh