HEALTH MINISTER MINGLES WITH JUNKIES

'Very Attentive' Clement Makes First Visit to Controversial Facility

Canada's health minister mingled with injection-drug users shooting up
yesterday as he made his first visit to a safe-injection site.

Tony Clement, accused by critics of having a hidden agenda against
such facilities, spent about 30 minutes touring Insite in Vancouver's
Downtown Eastside during his surprise visit to North America's only
such operation.

While reporters waited outside, Clement strolled through Insite's
waiting room, injection room and lounge, chatting with users and staff.

"I had a good chat with the staff there, understood some of their
procedures, asked a lot of questions, got a lot of answers," Clement
said afterwards.

Chris Buchner, HIV/AIDS and harm-reduction manager with Vancouver
Coastal Health, said clients were using drugs during Clement's visit.

As an Ontario health minister under former premier Mike Harris,
Clement was a tough critic of safe-injection sites, vowing to keep
them out of that province, preferring anti-drug education, treatment
and rehab for addicts.

Since entering federal politics, Clement has been accused of being
equally skeptical.

He declined yesterday to say whether the tour had any impact on his
views.

Insite, which opened in 2003, faced the prospect of closure last fall
as Clement tried to decide whether to renew an exemption that allows
the use of illegal drugs inside.

He eventually decided to allow Insite to operate through the end of
this year, awaiting studies that will help him decide on its long-term
fate.

Clement began his tour about 30 minutes after Insite opened for the
day at 10 a.m.

"A couple of the clients recognized him," said Buchner. "[They] were
very interested in telling him how important this place was to them."

Buchner described Clement as "very interested, very attentive."

Dean Wilson, a Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users board member,
chatted with Clement for several minutes.

"I just wanted to tell him that we never promised that [Insite] would
stop crime," said Wilson.

Clement also visited a nearby Salvation Army detox centre and homeless
shelter.