Pubdate: Sat, 14 May 2011
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2011 Times Colonist
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/letters.html
Website: http://www.timescolonist.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Author: Andrew K. Howson

FORGET JURISDICTION -INSITE WORKS

The issue of Vancouver's Insite has been disputed by the federal
government as falling under their jurisdiction as a matter of criminal
law, while the province has asserted the issue falls under their
jurisdiction as a matter of health care.

Whether the courts consider illicit drug abuse a crime in progress or
a health epidemic is irrelevant, as the effectiveness of Insite in
reducing drug abuse and minimizing other risks associated with such
behaviour has been thoroughly researched and proven.

At no point should a court of law, let alone a governing body,
disregard empirical evidence in favour of ideological policies that in
all probability will worsen the situation.

Andrew K. Howson

Victoria
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MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.