SAFE SITES - HOW SAFE ARE THEY?

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 I would quote verbatim
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.

"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 rehabilitive 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 - 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 counsellors 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 greats 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.