Pubdate: Sat, 01 Oct 2011 Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON) Copyright: 2011 The Ottawa Citizen Contact: http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/letters.html Website: http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326 Author: Lee Berthiaume Cited: Supreme Court Judgment: http://csc.lexum.org/en/2011/2011scc44/2011scc44.html U.S. WANTED B.C. INJECTION SITE CLOSED Program Violates 'International Drug Control Treaties,' Leaked Diplomatic Cable Says A diplomatic cable shows U.S. officials opposed the Insite supervised-injection site in Vancouver and wanted the federal and municipal governments to shut it down. The reference to Vancouver-based Insite is found in a U.S. Embassy assessment of Canadian drug policy dated Nov. 2, 2009, and released through Wikileaks. The memo is generally favourable of the federal Conservative government's efforts to clamp down on the production and distribution of illicit drugs, including a national awareness campaign targeting youth and parents. "However, local and provincial authorities have embarked on a number of so-called ' harm-reduction' programs," reads the cable, "including a drug injection site and distribution of drug paraphernalia to chronic users." The document notes the federal government "continues to deliver a sharp message" to cities and provinces about the programs, but called for stronger action. "Canada, or, as appropriate, municipalities such as Vancouver and Ottawa, should implement the (International Narcotics Control Board's) recommendations to eliminate drug injection sites and drug paraphernalia distribution programs," the cable reads, "because they violate international drug control treaties." The INCB is an independent body established to monitor implementation of UN international drug control conventions. It has been the subject of some controversy for demanding rigid adherence to strict drug control laws. The Supreme Court of Canada on Friday overrode the federal government's refusal to grant a permit extension to Insite, located in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. The judges unanimously ruled that the government's actions were "arbitrary," that closing the clinic would endanger the health and safety of Insite users, and the issue was ultimately a provincial matter, not federal. Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said while the federal government is disappointed with the ruling, it will comply. Her office did not respond to questions about discussions with the U.S. on Insite. The U.S. Embassy said it did not have any comment on Friday's Supreme Court decision. Chris Sands, a Canada-U.S. expert at the Washington, D.C.-based Hudson Institute, didn't believe U.S. officials were actively pressuring the government to crack down on Insite. That's because the Conservative government shared U.S. opposition to supervised-injection sites. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.