COUNCIL KILLS CRACK PIPE PROGRAM

Surprise Move Called A Blow For Public Health In Ottawa

Council decided yesterday to end the city's controversial crack pipe
program -- a move heralded as a great day for tourism, but a sad day
for public health.

"We just voted to basically kill six to 12 people a year," said
Councillor Clive Doucet. He was referring to the estimated number of
people who, because of the program, did not contract communicable
diseases from sharing infected drug paraphernalia.

The program's intent, said chief medical officer Dr. David Salisbury,
was not to prevent drug use, but to prevent the spread of diseases
like HIV and Hepatitis C.

Because crack users usually experience cuts to their lips, they can
be exposed to infected blood when they share pipes.

He said Ottawa faces an epidemic of those diseases, which is only
furthered by reusing crack pipes and needles.

"If we cannot control the HIV epidemic, it will affect all of us.
Whether in the pocketbook, or with the ones we lose," he said.

Dr. Salisbury noted the hospital bill for a patient who develops AIDS
is $600,000. The crack pipe program cost the city $7,500 a year.

After the motion carried, a visibly upset Dr. Salisbury said the city
could see a rise in incidences of HIV and Hepatitis C.

Councillor Rick Chiarelli, who introduced the surprise motion to end
the program, said there was "absolutely no evidence" the program had
reduced communicable diseases.

But last year, a University of Ottawa study said it radically reduced
the sharing of drug paraphernalia, although it increased crack smoking.

University of Ottawa epidemiologist Lynne Leonard said despite the
increase in crack use, there was "significant scientific evidence"
that showed the program reduced the harm associated with crack smoking.

Originally, council was supposed to only decide yesterday whether to
review the program.

Many councillors, including Mr. Chiarelli, didn't see the point in
spending $500,000 to review a program that "enables drug use." "It's
one of the most ironic, mixed messages a municipal government could
send to people," Mr. Chiarelli said. "We spend thousands to arrest
them, and then spend thousands to supply them with the
paraphernalia." Although police Chief Vern White has opposed the
program, he supported a review. Residents of a Sandy Hill
neighbourhood who had come to protest the review were jubilant. They
said since the city had introduced the program, crack use has
increased significantly in their neighbourhood.

Police inspector Lance Valcour, who has walked the beat along Rideau
Street and through Sandy Hill for 30 years, said crack cocaine is
like the cheap sherry of days gone by. "If you have $3 to spend and
you can get a tall boy (beer) for $3.80 and a piece of crack for $3,
what are you going to do?" Earlier, the group of about 25 residents
marched to City Hall with bags of used crack pipes they'd picked up
on their front lawns. They clashed with a small group from the AIDS
Committee of Ottawa who yelled "Crack kits save lives." As a shouting
match ensued, Mayor Larry O'Brien arrived, and stood with used crack
pipes sprinkled at his feet. He had to ask his staff for protection
from the boisterous protesters.

"We need treatment centres," he told the group. "The last thing we
need to do is serve the drugs. This has got to end." In last year's
election campaign, Mr. O'Brien opposed the program. After the motion
passed, he said he would be on the phone to the Province of Ontario
to talk about a 48-bed treatment centre for Ottawa.

Currently, the closest centre is in Thunder Bay. In a press release,
the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network called the decision to cancel the
program "irresponsible" and "shortsighted." The group from Sandy Hill
stood on the sidelines and applauded the mayor. They saw things
differently. "It's a great day for Ottawa," said member Sabina
Sauter. "It's a great day for tourism."

How They Voted

Kill the program:

Shad Qadri, Stittsville-Kanata West; Eli El-Chantiry, West
Carleton-March; Bob Monette, Orleans; Christine Leadman,
Kitchissippi; Marianne Wilkinson, Kanata North; Rick Chiarelli,
College; Maria McRae, River; Glenn Brooks, Rideau-Goulbourn; Rainer
Bloess, Innes; Gord Hunter, Knoxdale-Merivale; Steve
Desroches,Gloucester-South Nepean; Doug Thompson, Osgoode; Rob
Jellett, Cumberland; Jan Harder, Barrhaven; Mayor Larry O'Brien.

Save the program:

Diane Holmes, Somerset.

Clive Doucet, Capital; Michel Bellemare, Beacon Hill-Cyrville; Peter
Hume, Alta Vista; Jacque Legendre, Rideau-Rockcliffe; Diane Deans,
Gloucester-Southgate; Peggy Feltmate, Kanata South.

Absent:

Alex Cullen, Bay; Georges Bedard, Rideau-Vanier.