To all people....
Thecure
Posts: 814
i am so upset today as i just read a story in Canada (my homeland) about safe injection sites. for those who don't know what that is i will explain. a safe injection site is a place that people who use injection drugs can go and be able to use while having medical staff there to make sure that they are safe with their use.
here is a story that all should read.
Clement to assess Quebec's safe-injection-site plans
Advocates in B.C. upset in light of Health Minister's decision last week to contest ruling that validated Vancouver's Insite program
GLORIA GALLOWAY AND IAN BAILEY
From Thursday's Globe and Mail
June 5, 2008 at 5:56 AM EDT
OTTAWA, VANCOUVER — Health Minister Tony Clement says his government will not necessarily oppose safe-injection sites for illegal drugs in Quebec even though it will appeal a court decision allowing a similar facility in British Columbia.
"It's a situation that we can discuss with the province. There is no decision now, today," Mr. Clement said when asked about the possibility that Quebec will set up a facility like Vancouver's Insite.
"I am obligated to consider each situation as a unique situation. That's my obligation as the Minister of Health."
Quebec jealously guards control of its health-care system and does not take kindly to federal interference. But a safe-injection site would require an exemption from the federal Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
Quebec Health Minister Philippe Couillard said yesterday that his government is considering opening safe-injection sites where addicts can inject drugs such as heroin under medical supervision. Like Vancouver's groundbreaking Insite, the Quebec sites could offer needle-exchange programs and help for addicts who want to quit.
"It is an option that is being evaluated, among others," said Marie Claude Gagnon, a spokeswoman for Quebec's Ministry of Health.
It is too early to say how many of the sites could be established or where, Ms. Gagnon said, adding that her government is interested in controlling disease.
"It's part of a gamut of solutions for a clientele that are difficult to reach," she said.
Mr. Clement's comments left some in British Columbia astonished given the minister's criticism of safe-injection sites.
"If it's good enough for Quebec, it's good enough for B.C.," said Allan Lowe, mayor of Victoria, which has been seeking three safe-injection sites for several years. Mr. Lowe said he was "delighted" Mr. Clement was willing to talk with the Quebec Health Minister, but hoped he would also talk with George Abbott, the B.C. Health Minister.
"What's good for one health minister in one province should be good for another health minister in another province," Mr. Lowe said.
Mayor Sam Sullivan of Vancouver, a supporter of Insite, wondered about Mr. Clement's views.
"It's either a case of treating Quebec differently or it's a case the thinking in Ottawa is evolving," Mr. Sullivan said.
Thomas Kerr of the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, who has conducted studies on Insite, said Mr. Clement's comments were in line with contradictions in the government's handling of the issue.
"Nothing really surprises me fully at this point given how all over the map this government has been on this issue," Dr. Kerr said.
Mark Townsend, a spokesman for the PHS Community Services Society, which helps run Insite, called it "quite bizarre" that Mr. Clement did not tell Quebec he opposes safe-injection sites.
"The only thing it could be is that Stephen Harper is prepared to bend over backwards for Quebec," he said.
A spokeswoman for Mr. Couillard said the minister is examining a British Columbia Supreme Court ruling which said that Insite's injection-drug users have the right to protection from drug laws under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Mr. Justice Ian Pitfield gave the federal government until June 30, 2009, to redraft laws against possession and trafficking of illegal drugs to accommodate Insite's operation.
But Mr. Clement told the Commons health committee last week that he would ask that the ruling be appealed. Injection not only causes physical harm, he argued, but prolongs addiction.
Mr. Clement also said such programs divert funds from treatment - and that a government-sponsored supervised injection site sends a very mixed message.
"But my obligation, again, is to consider the unique situation of each issue," he added.
Libby Davies, a New Democrat MP whose Vancouver riding includes Insite, said it is obvious the federal Conservatives are "incredibly sensitive" to what is going on in Quebec.
The Tories believe they could make gains in Quebec that would help them form a majority government.
"They don't want to upset anybody in Quebec and they seem to be writing off Vancouver and British Columbia. I'm appalled," Ms. Davies said.
--
here is a story that all should read.
Clement to assess Quebec's safe-injection-site plans
Advocates in B.C. upset in light of Health Minister's decision last week to contest ruling that validated Vancouver's Insite program
GLORIA GALLOWAY AND IAN BAILEY
From Thursday's Globe and Mail
June 5, 2008 at 5:56 AM EDT
OTTAWA, VANCOUVER — Health Minister Tony Clement says his government will not necessarily oppose safe-injection sites for illegal drugs in Quebec even though it will appeal a court decision allowing a similar facility in British Columbia.
"It's a situation that we can discuss with the province. There is no decision now, today," Mr. Clement said when asked about the possibility that Quebec will set up a facility like Vancouver's Insite.
"I am obligated to consider each situation as a unique situation. That's my obligation as the Minister of Health."
Quebec jealously guards control of its health-care system and does not take kindly to federal interference. But a safe-injection site would require an exemption from the federal Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
Quebec Health Minister Philippe Couillard said yesterday that his government is considering opening safe-injection sites where addicts can inject drugs such as heroin under medical supervision. Like Vancouver's groundbreaking Insite, the Quebec sites could offer needle-exchange programs and help for addicts who want to quit.
"It is an option that is being evaluated, among others," said Marie Claude Gagnon, a spokeswoman for Quebec's Ministry of Health.
It is too early to say how many of the sites could be established or where, Ms. Gagnon said, adding that her government is interested in controlling disease.
"It's part of a gamut of solutions for a clientele that are difficult to reach," she said.
Mr. Clement's comments left some in British Columbia astonished given the minister's criticism of safe-injection sites.
"If it's good enough for Quebec, it's good enough for B.C.," said Allan Lowe, mayor of Victoria, which has been seeking three safe-injection sites for several years. Mr. Lowe said he was "delighted" Mr. Clement was willing to talk with the Quebec Health Minister, but hoped he would also talk with George Abbott, the B.C. Health Minister.
"What's good for one health minister in one province should be good for another health minister in another province," Mr. Lowe said.
Mayor Sam Sullivan of Vancouver, a supporter of Insite, wondered about Mr. Clement's views.
"It's either a case of treating Quebec differently or it's a case the thinking in Ottawa is evolving," Mr. Sullivan said.
Thomas Kerr of the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, who has conducted studies on Insite, said Mr. Clement's comments were in line with contradictions in the government's handling of the issue.
"Nothing really surprises me fully at this point given how all over the map this government has been on this issue," Dr. Kerr said.
Mark Townsend, a spokesman for the PHS Community Services Society, which helps run Insite, called it "quite bizarre" that Mr. Clement did not tell Quebec he opposes safe-injection sites.
"The only thing it could be is that Stephen Harper is prepared to bend over backwards for Quebec," he said.
A spokeswoman for Mr. Couillard said the minister is examining a British Columbia Supreme Court ruling which said that Insite's injection-drug users have the right to protection from drug laws under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Mr. Justice Ian Pitfield gave the federal government until June 30, 2009, to redraft laws against possession and trafficking of illegal drugs to accommodate Insite's operation.
But Mr. Clement told the Commons health committee last week that he would ask that the ruling be appealed. Injection not only causes physical harm, he argued, but prolongs addiction.
Mr. Clement also said such programs divert funds from treatment - and that a government-sponsored supervised injection site sends a very mixed message.
"But my obligation, again, is to consider the unique situation of each issue," he added.
Libby Davies, a New Democrat MP whose Vancouver riding includes Insite, said it is obvious the federal Conservatives are "incredibly sensitive" to what is going on in Quebec.
The Tories believe they could make gains in Quebec that would help them form a majority government.
"They don't want to upset anybody in Quebec and they seem to be writing off Vancouver and British Columbia. I'm appalled," Ms. Davies said.
--
People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid."
- Soren Aabye Kierkegaard (1813-1855)
If you haven't got anything nice to say about anybody, come sit next to me."
- Alice Roosevelt Longworth (1884-1980)
- Soren Aabye Kierkegaard (1813-1855)
If you haven't got anything nice to say about anybody, come sit next to me."
- Alice Roosevelt Longworth (1884-1980)
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Comments
i am upset that there seems to be rules for different people living in different parts of the same country. why is it OK for quebec to have safe injection sites and not Vancouver?
- Soren Aabye Kierkegaard (1813-1855)
If you haven't got anything nice to say about anybody, come sit next to me."
- Alice Roosevelt Longworth (1884-1980)
well ... this is our conservative gov't doing what it does best! ... they know they won't get any seats in any of the 3 largest cities in Canada - so, fuck em as best they can ...
and the fucking liberals or NDP are doing shit about it. i can't believe that people are accepting this.
- Soren Aabye Kierkegaard (1813-1855)
If you haven't got anything nice to say about anybody, come sit next to me."
- Alice Roosevelt Longworth (1884-1980)
well the liberals are fucking useless - at least the ndp is trying to do stuff but no one really cares about them so, that's kinda useless as well ...