SECOND SAFE INJECTION SITE OPERATING QUIETLY IN VANCOUVER SINCE 2002

VANCOUVER -- A B.C. Supreme Court decision that closing Vancouver's
supervised injection site is unconstitutional was a victory for the
site's supporters.

But another safe injection site has been operating quietly in the city
since 2002, and officials there say the federal government's plan to
appeal Tuesday's ruling will not stop them - even if the Conservatives
succeed in their appeal.

The site is part of the Dr. Peter Centre, an HIV/AIDS-specific care
facility in the west end. It's much smaller than Insite, but offers
the same service - a place for heroin users to inject drugs under the
watchful eye of health-care workers.

Maxine Davis, executive director of the Dr. Peter Centre, said it
makes sense to offer a supervised injection site to patients whose
illnesses go hand in hand with drug addiction.

"Nurses working at the centre were witnessing rushed injections and a
variety of health concerns," Ms. Davis said. "And they decided if they
knew what to do to prevent such things, why not do it?"

And while Insite was seeking an exemption from criminal law, the
centre took the position that it is upholding the law by providing a
place where addicts can use drugs safely.

The centre's safe injection site has the blessing of the B.C. College
of Nurses, the Vancouver Police Department and the provincial
government. Unlike the high-profile Insite, the Dr. Peter Centre's
facility has never been threatened with closing - the federal
government has not even acknowledged it. As recently as last week,
inquiries about the site were bounced from one ministry to another as
none seemed to know it existed.

Tuesday's court decision, which proclaimed heroin addiction to be a
health issue, specifically mentioned Insite. Health Minister Tony
Clement said yesterday that the government will appeal the decision.

Ms. Davis said the court ruling would give the Dr. Peter Centre case
law with which to argue for its existence. Whether the federal
government wins or loses its appeal, Ms. Davis said the site will
continue to operate.

"We were clear and firm in our position that we were carrying on
regardless of the decision that was made by the court," she said. "So,
if the federal government wants to appeal it, we maintain our position
that it is a professional nurses' practice."