MOUNTIES EXONERATE SULLIVAN

Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan won't be charged for giving money to two
Vancouver drug addicts.

The actions of the mayor -- who is also chairman of the Vancouver
Police Board -- were investigated by the RCMP and yesterday they said
no criminal charges would be brought against him.

"I am glad that the cloud that has hung over me for the last many
months has left," Sullivan said from Ottawa. "I have been very open
and honest with the public on this issue.

"I don't believe what I did was wrong, but I can tell you I would not
do it again."

Sullivan made a lengthy statement to police last month detailing his
interactions with the two addicts he referred to as Michele and Shawn.

"In the year 2000, a front-page article was published detailing how I
gave money to a 20-year-old woman to buy heroin to prevent her from
risking her life and health by prostituting herself to get drug
money," Sullivan told police.

"I also disclosed to a journalist writing a feature article about me
that I gave money to a crack-cocaine addict. For five years no one
ever questioned the legality of my actions or worried about the
health of my addicted friends."

The issue played prominently in the 2005 election campaign, and when
Sullivan was elected mayor Vancouver police Chief Jamie Graham said
he had no choice but to order an investigation.

Sullivan said he will no longer intervene personally in addicts'
lives, but will attempt to help them through public-policy changes.