CABINET TO REVIEW SAFE INJECTION SITE EXTENSION

Health Canada has approved an extension of the exemption that allows
Vancouver's controversial safe-injection site to operate -- but the
plan is subject to review by the federal cabinet, the Vancouver
Province reports.

A regional health-administration source, speaking on condition of
anonymity, confirmed the situation yesterday, suggesting the operation
praised by Premier Gordon Campbell, former mayors and police will get
permission to operate for three years if the decision is approved.

But a Health Canada spokesman insisted no final decision has been made
on the fate of Insite, North America's only such operation.

Insite provides addicts with medical attention as they use illegal
drugs in a bid to deal with injection-related diseases and overdoses.

It is able to operate legally due to a three-year exemption issued by
Health Canada in September 2003.

That exemption expires on Sept. 12, which has raised concerns about
whether the Harper government will renew it.