Pubdate: Wed, 31 May 2006
Source: Victoria News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 Victoria News
Contact:  http://www.vicnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1267
Author: Brennan Clarke, Victoria News
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?142 (Safe Injecting Rooms)

PM BACKS TREATMENT

Stephen Harper Supports A Sewage Site, But Not A Safe-Injection Site

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's visit to Victoria  provided a renewed 
sense of optimism in the drive to  build a sewage treatment plant in 
the Capital Region,  but he dashed the hopes of those who support 
building a  safe-injection site in the city.

During a media conference following his speech to the  Greater 
Victoria Chamber of Commerce Friday, Harper  confirmed that the 
federal government would be prepared  to fund one-third of such a 
project but called on local  politicians to drive the sewage agenda.

"I'd like to see it high on the agenda," Harper said,  adding that 
"we would expect the initiative for that  would come from municipal 
authorities."

Afterward, Victoria Mayor Alan Lowe, who also chairs  the Capital 
Regional District board, said Harper's  comments should help motivate 
those municipalities that  have yet to back sewage-treatment proposal.

"The ball is in the CRD's court and as chair of the  CRD, I'm hoping 
to lead this initiative," Lowe said.  "One of the partners has said 
they're willing to come  on board; so if we'll be requiring sewage 
treatment in  the future you might as well jump at it when the money 
is available."

Lowe said it's likely the CRD will begin costing out  options once an 
upcoming report on sewage treatment has  been reviewed.

The $600,000 study by the Society of Environmental  Toxicology and 
Chemistry is slated for delivery in  July.

Lowe also talked with Harper about the possibility of a 
safe-injection site for Victoria's intravenous-drug-use  community, 
an idea that gathered momentum during  Liberal Paul Martin's brief 
tenure as prime minister.

But Harper, in keeping with his government's  conservative position 
on drug use, sounded less than  enthusiastic about the idea.

"He's more than willing to meet with the various  parties, but 
safe-injection sites are totally against  the platform of his 
government; so it would be very  difficult for him to come out and 
say 'yes' or 'no,'"  Lowe said.

The chamber of commerce urged Harper to push for  redevelopment of 
the Belleville ferry terminal,  although chamber president Robin 
Adair acknowledged the  issue is relatively new to Harper.

"The prime minister was actually very responsive, but  it's not 
something the government has been hearing a  lot about," Adair said.

Harper told reporters his government considers  Belleville an 
important "gateway" to Canada and is  having some discussions with 
the province about  "priorities and sequencing."

Harper also unveiled proposed electoral reforms Friday,  a promise to 
work toward an elected senate and moving  to fixed election dates, 
with the first slated for  sometime in the fall of 2009.

"I think those who have done it (including B.C.) have  mixed feelings 
about it because it does limit the  government's advantage to some 
degree," he said.

Like his predecessor, Paul Martin, Harper pledged to  give B.C. more 
MPs in the House of Commons.

B.C.'s share of federal ridings "departs substantially  from the 
principle of population," Harper noted.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman