Pubdate: Tue, 27 Sep 2005
Source: Vancouver 24hours (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005, Canoe Inc
Contact:  http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3837
Author: Irwin Loy
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction)

HARD DECISION, BUT CHOW'S ALL FOR FOUR PILLARS

Vision Vancouver's newest candidate says he's had a change of heart since 
he last ran for city council.

In 2002, George Chow ran as an independent candidate on a platform opposing 
the controversial harm reduction drug strategy his new party now trumpets. 
He earned a respectable 17,849 votes in that election.

"I was opposed to the safe injection site because I believed it wasn't a 
reasonable way to approach the drug problem," Chow told 24 hours yesterday. 
"But I changed because [Mayor] Larry Campbell put the message out and the 
voters agreed ... the safe injection site was established and I think it's 
successful."

With that in place, Chow says now the focus is on building the other 
aspects of the so-called "Four Pillars" strategy, such as treatment and 
enforcement. He wants to see more police on the street and more treatment 
programs for addicts.

Meanwhile, Chow hopes Chinese-Canadians opposed to harm reduction will 
change their minds, much the way he has. "Particularly with the Chinese 
community we believe in getting to the root of the problem; we believe in 
abstinence [from drugs]," Chow said. "But we're in Canada, and I think we 
have to abide by what's happening here."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom