SULLIVAN SPEAKS OUT

A Non-Partisan Association city councillor has told the Straight that he
has raised concerns at Vancouver city hall about the Carnegie Centre's
admission policies concerning drug addicts. "I've brought it up with city
staff," Coun. Sam Sullivan said. "It seems to be not even an issue-'No way,
you can't have any of those people going into there; it will just disrupt
everything.' That could very well be true, but the only reason they will
disrupt people is because they are people with disabilities who are not
being treated."

Last week, the Straight reported that Vancouver Needle Exchange founder
John Turvey had filed a complaint to the British Columbia Human Rights
Commission against the Carnegie Centre. Turvey alleged that the city-owned
centre at the corner of Main and Hastings streets discriminated against
drug addicts by barring them, and not providing a neutral appeal procedure.

Carnegie Centre director Michael Clague told the Straight last week that
people are barred from the building on the basis of behaviour, not on the
basis of whether or not they are addicted to drugs or alcohol.

Sullivan told the Straight that he has not discussed this issue with
Clague. However, Sullivan added that drug addiction is a disability, which
means that those individuals are protected by the Charter of Rights and
Freedoms and the British Columbia Human Rights Code.

"If they were stabilized on heroin maintenance or other drug substitutes,
they would be fine," Sullivan said. "They would be entirely capable of
interacting with people....You don't treat drug addicts by curing them any
more than you treat quadriplegics by making them walk. You've got to help
them manage their disability."

The Straight has obtained a copy of the Carnegie Centre's "Barring
Guidelines", which lists 14 offences, including: child molestation
(lifetime barring); sexual abuse (one year minimum for first offence,
followed by an interview); assault on staff, patron or fighting on premises
(two months minimum for first offence); property damage (two months minimum
plus requirement to repay); alcohol or drug consumption on premises (one
month minimum for first offence); verbally abusing staff or patrons or
being stoned or drunk on the premises (one week minimum for first offence);
carrying a weapon (discretion of supervisor-police possibility).