Pubdate: Thu, 11 Jul 2013
Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2013 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact:  http://torontosun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457
Author: Don Peat

T.O. BOARD URGES SAFE INJECTION SITE

Toronto Board of Health chairman Joe Mihevc urged the province 
Wednesday to "get with the program" and fund a safe injection site in the city.

Mihevc's plea to fund a supervised injection pilot program came 
minutes after the board voted 6-2 to make the request to the 
provincial government and to oppose the federal government's Bill 
C-65 - Respect for Communities Act-that outlines the process and 
documentation required for groups wanting to operate an injection site.

The vote marked the first time any governing body in Ontario has 
taken a stand on the controversial issue of supervised injection.

Mihevc argued a safe injection clinic in Vancouver has "worked well" 
and it is time for Ontario to allow it in this province. "(Health 
Minister) Deb Matthews needs to frankly get with the program," Mihevc said.

Councillor Gord Perks stressed the vote now demands a response from 
the province.

"We're asking them to, I'll be crude, s--- or get off the pot," Perks said.

The approved recommendations don't need council approval so the issue 
won't come to council floor, where it would likely face staunch 
opposition from Mayor Rob Ford.

"Supervised injection sites aren't something that we're moving 
forward with right now, but we do believe in an evidence-based 
approach to harm reduction," Matthews said in a statement.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom