Pubdate: Tue, 23 Sep 2008
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2008 Times Colonist
Contact: http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/letters.html
Website: http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Author: Gerry Bellett, Canwest News Service
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?142 (Supervised Injection Sites)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction)

INSITE SUPPORTERS ROAST FEDERAL CONSERVATIVES

President Of International AIDS Group Says Ottawa Ready To Commit 'Genocide'

VANCOUVER -- Yesterday marked the fifth anniversary of the opening of
Vancouver's controversial supervised injection site, but the event was
used to unleash a bitter attack on the Conservative federal
government's desire to see the East Hastings Street facility closed
down.

A group of eminent physicians and researchers gathered in the centre
and attacked Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Health Minister Tony
Clement for what they said is the government's refusal to accept
scientific research showing that:

- - The centre is effective in saving drug users' lives.

- - It has reduced deaths from overdoses.

- - It is preventing the transmission of HIV-AIDS.

- - It is reducing the number of people injecting in public and
increasing the numbers seeking detox and treatment.

- - It is making life safer for highly vulnerable female addicts living
in the Downtown Eastside.

Dr. Thomas Kerr, director of the Urban Health Program in the B.C.
Centre for Excellence in HIV-AIDS, accused the federal government of
"clinging to ideology while engaged in a war against science in this
country.

"When Tony Clement attacks Insite, he makes up his own facts," said
Kerr, adding that Insite's research had been subjected to 30 peer
reviews and published by some of the world's leading medical
publications.

Dr. Julio Montaner, president of the International AIDS Society and a
professor of medicine at the University of B.C., accused the
government of being ready to commit "genocide" against addicts.

"If they won't let us go forward to help our friends and family who
have this condition, that is a crime of neglect," Montaner said.

"It is deliberate and when it's targeted against a specific group of
people -- that's genocide," he said. "These people have no morals."

The debate between the government and the medical supporters of Insite
began almost as soon as the Conservatives were elected and will
clearly become an issue in the federal election for Vancouver voters.

Outgoing Victoria Mayor Alan Lowe had hoped to establish a similar
facility in his city, but it's unlikely a future council could follow
through if Insite is shut down in Vancouver.

In August, when he was in Vancouver, Clement slammed Insite, saying
the Canadian Medical Association's endorsement of the program was
dangerously misleading.

"Insite may slow the death spiral of a deadly drug habit but it does
not reverse it. I do not regard this as a positive health outcome,"
the minister told the CMA conference.

Kerr said it was time for Insite to expand.

He said Insite can only handle a small percentage of addicts who want
clean syringes and medical supervision while injecting.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Steve Heath