PARENTS NOT BUYING NEEDLE EXCHANGE PLAN

Assurances by police and Vancouver Island Health Authority that a
relocated needle exchange will not result in the street chaos now seen
outside the Cormorant Street facility failed to mollify angry parents
of St. Andrew's Elementary School students last evening.

More than 200 people listened in stony silence as VIHA president
Howard Waldner and interim Victoria police chief Bill Naughton
explained how a new needle exchange on Pandora Avenue would be a
different model than Cormorant Street, with improved services and
better policing.

Then, they lined up to give them an earful on lack of consultation,
lack of faith in the ability of authorities to control intravenous
drug users and the danger to children of putting the exchange
kitty-corner to the Catholic school.

"VIHA and associated parties are putting addiction problems of some
ahead of the safety of our children," said a representative of St.
Andrew's School Council.

Waldner apologized for not having consulted the school before news of
the impending move to 941 Pandora Ave. appeared in the media.

"This is not the way we wanted to begin the process. I wanted full
consultation once we had confirmation this building was available to
us," he said.

When pressed, Waldner said negotiations to buy the $2-million building
are in the final stages, with VIHA checking building integrity and
doing an environmental review of the site.

But, that means consultation will take place only when it is a done
deal, said angry speakers.

"That's offensive," said the parent of a Grade 6 student.

It is bogus consultation, said Thomas Munson.

"These parents here have a human right to be consulted."

Waldner said the relocated needle exchange will provide integrated
health services, with teams of doctors, nurses and social workers.

"It's not that we will be drawing the population to this location.
They are here now, today, and we can't pretend that is not the case,"
he said.

But, to some, that shows police have already lost control.

A condo owner from 1015 Pandora Ave. said drug use is
rampant.

"We don't need a TV set... This place is a bloody zoo," he
said.

Waldner said he believes the needle exchange will help make the area
"better and safer than it is today."

There will be increased mobile needle exchanges, with vehicles, foot
patrols and bike patrols taking needles to users in the community, he
said.

"That means that the people who are not downtown already won't have to
go downtown," he said.

Some accused city council of washing their hands of the issue, but
Coun. Charlayne Thornton-Joe said, although the building is already
appropriately zoned, councillors are listening to the concerns.