Pubdate: Thu, 10 Aug 2017
Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2017 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact: http://www.torontosun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://torontosun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457
Author: Shawn Jeffords
Page: 8

NOT TIME TO TALK DECRIMINALIZATION: TORY

Mayor John Tory says now is not the time to engage in a divisive
debate about decriminalizing heroin.

Tory was reacting to comments made Friday by Board of Health Chair Joe
Mihevc, who suggested the 'war on drugs' hasn't worked and it might be
time for Toronto to try a new approach.

Starting a discussion about decriminalizi rugs, like heroin, could be
part of that approach, he added.

Asked about Mihevc's comments Wednesday, Tory responded: "My answer to
that would be 'not now.' "

Tory said the city is focused on the opening of three supervised
injection sites and implementing its overdose action plan.

For now, that should be where the city government's efforts are
directed, he said.

"We are woefully short of proper treatment programs and proper
treatment facilities," he said. "We are in the process, just now, of
building our first supervised injection sites. We are just in the
process of distributing naloxone to first responders of all different
kinds. So, to me to tak e on that particular issue which is going to
be difficult, complex and potentially polarizing, I think it's not
timely."
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MAP posted-by: Matt