Pubdate: Fri, 21 Jul 2017
Source: Metro (Ottawa, CN ON)
Copyright: 2017 Metro
Contact:  http://www.metronews.ca/Ottawa
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4032
Author: Alex Abdelwahab
Page: A1

CITY INJECTION SITE REACHES DECISION STAGE

Last month 134 admitted to ER for suspected overdose

Health Canada's final decision on whether a supervised injection site
can open at the Sandy Hill Community Health Centre could be coming any
day.

According to the Health Canada website, the proposal has completed all
five of the required application steps and has now reached the
decision stage.

Rob Boyd, Oasis program director at the centre, told Metro he was
notified by the department Wednesday they had completed the
application to the satisfaction of Health Canada and their case would
now be forwarded for a final decision.

"It's kind of like waiting for a baby now," Boyd said, adding he is
pleased the project has reached the final stage of the process and
relieved there is nothing further they have to do. "It's been such a
long journey for us."

The plans for the supervised injection site started five years ago,
Boyd said, and the need for the site is high.

Last month, at least 134 people were admitted to an emergency room for
a suspected overdose.

Section 56 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Acts allows the
minister of health to issue exemptions when it's in the public interest.

On Thursday, a spokesperson for Health Canada could not provide a
timeline of when the final decision will be made.
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MAP posted-by: Matt