Pubdate: Fri, 07 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: Richard Elliott Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n608/a02.html INJECTION SITE TIME IS NOW Re: Police, mayor oppose safe injection site, Oct. 1. We agree wholeheartedly with Dr. Mark Tyndall that "the time is now" to open a safe injection site in Ottawa. Ottawa is lucky to have found a champion in Tyndall, who has the knowledge and experience - from years working in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside - required to see such an important project through to completion. We applaud his efforts. Indeed, there are many Canadians in jurisdictions across this country in need of champions like Tyndall. After the recent Supreme Court ruling to keep Insite open, we hope that decision-makers Canadawide will act fearlessly to make similar harm reduction services available to those in need in their locales. We need leaders who are unafraid to act with reason and compassion, and who do not confuse dogged ideology with good public-health practices. Now that Canada's highest court has made its landmark decision, there should be nothing standing in their way. Richard Elliott, Toronto Executive Director, Canadian HIV/ AIDS Legal Network - --- MAP posted-by: Matt