COUNCILLORS DEMAND ONE-FOR-ONE NEEDLE TRADE

Drug users must hand in their old needles when taking new ones handed
out at public expense, three city councillors argue.

West Carleton Councillor Eli El-Chantiry, Orleans Councillor Bob
Monette and Stittsville-Kanata Councillor Shad Qadri are asking the
city's legal department about the possibility of the city insisting
on a one-for-one exchange of needles for addicts.

If the legal department gives the go-ahead, the issue would have to
be considered by a council committee and then full city council
before becoming policy.

The three are trying to solve the problem of needles being discarded
by addicts in public places, including parks, trees and phone booths,
said Mr. El-Chantiry.

One citizen in the ByWard Market area complained by presenting
councillors with two buckets full of needles, he noted.

Mr. El-Chantiry said that if the city is going to be giving out
needles, it has an obligation to try to ensure that the public,
especially children, doesn't come into contact with the used ones.

"We want a needle exchange, not a needle giveaway," said Mr. Monette.
He said that while downtown is most affected by this problem, there
are needles being found in suburban communities such as Orleans.

Mr. Monette has close to 40 pictures that have been sent to his
office showing discarded needles throughout the city.

"Our community is littered with these needles," said Mr. Monette.

Mr. Monette adds that he wants to see a drug-rehabilitation clinic
established in Ottawa to help reduce the number of users.

It's not good enough for the city to be handing out crack pipes and
needles as a means of coping with the burgeoning drug problem, Mr.
Monette said.