HOW SAFE ARE THE INJECTION SITES?

Drug addicts in Vancouver can shoot up while being supervised in
North America's only facility legalized to do that. The In-Site
project operates with a special legal exemption. The debate has been
fierce on whether such a policy is a good thing or not. My column
today is not going to get into the debate per se. I do however want
to give you, my constituents, an update on what has occurred this
past week.

First, a B.C. Court has ruled that drug addicts have a right to a
facility like this. This ruling came just before our federal
government was to have made a decision as to whether this activity
should continue. The federal Minister of Health announced this week
that the government will challenge that ruling.

For the purpose of reporting to you, I thought the best thing to do
was to quote verbatim exactly what the Minister of Health gave as his
reason for challenging the B.C. court decision. I'll just give it to
you word for word so that you can see the federal rationale,
whichever side of the argument you are on.

Here is what the minister said: "In my opinion, supervised injection
is not medicine. It does not heal the person addicted to drugs.

"Injection not only causes physical harm, it also deepens and
prolongs the addiction. Programs to support supervised injection
divert valuable dollars away from treatment.

"Government sponsored injection sends a very mixed message to young
people who are contemplating the use of illegal drugs.

"The evidence is that In-Site's injection program saves, at best, one
life per year. A precious life, yes. I believe we can do better and
must.

"My job as Health Minister is to balance that one life against any
possible negative effect of supervised injection that might take one
life elsewhere."

That was his statement.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch right here in our own constituency a
group in Merritt has come up with their own approach to taking
preventative and rehabilitative action towards youth with substance
abuse issues. They recognized there is a local problem of young
people getting involved in drugs, gang and related criminal
activity. When they approached me on the issue I explained the broad
government policy on this problem.

We basically are taking a two pronged approach aE" the long arm of
the law and the open arms of the community. The long arm of the law
means a tougher approach to those committing the crimes and more help
for the law abiding citizens who are the victims of those crimes.

The "open arms of the community" refers to our belief that local
groups and agencies can play a vital role in putting together
prevention programs that can intercept kids at risk before they
plunge themselves into destructive behaviours.

The Merritt Youth Mural program is such a group. In a unique way they
have joined forces with the Merritt Walk of Stars Society to reach
out to vulnerable Aboriginal youth and their families. In conjunction
with educational and occupational counselors the youth mural project
will help up to 60 at risk young people. Through a variety of means
they will teach the young people about taking responsibility,
learning job skills and how to contribute in real and positive ways
to the community in which they live. I was able to assist the group
in getting federal funds for the program and I look forward with
confidence to the future results of kids turned away from drugs and
crime.

While I'm talking about Merritt I can't help but tell you of a
special award I received at the annual Merritt Country Music Walk of
Stars. I do their fundraising auction for them. The organizers
totally surprised me by getting me to do my handprint in cement to be
placed in a star alongside the country music great who have
performed here over the years.

It was a real honour for me. And since the star will be placed on the
sidewalk anyone who wants to stomp their feet on me is free to do
so.

Stockwell Day is the MP for Okanagan Coquihalla.