COUNCIL EAGER FOR FEDERAL DRUG MONEY

VANCOUVER - Vancouver city council's three parties have agreed to call
on the federal government to provide funding from its
soon-to-be-announced national drug strategy for the city's Four
Pillars approach to treating drugs.

But they split on asking for special funds for particular
projects.

Coun. Kim Capri wanted a letter to the federal government to ask
specifically for money to support the experimental approaches that
Mayor Sam Sullivan has been advocating, which would provide a variety
of legal substitutes to cocaine and heroin addicts.

But Vision Vancouver Coun. George Chow suggested the letter should ask
for money for other initiatives, including a second
supervised-injection site.

The majority Non-Partisan Association council members voted against
that, and the opposing councillors voted against Capri's request.

Sullivan also said he welcomed a six-month extension for Vancouver's
safe-injection site announced by Health Minister Tony Clement.