SAFE DRUG INJECTION SITES COULD STILL BE TWO MONTHS AWAY

It could be two months before Vancouver's safe drug injection sites open,
even though council voted unanimously Thursday to ask city staff to
expedite the process for reviewing site applications.

Council wants the city to be ready to act as soon as Health Canada approves
the city's participation in a research project involving supervision of
addicts who inject their drugs.

"The important issue is coordinating our processes with the application to
federal government and the intention of Health Canada to allow the research
project to happen," Donald MacPherson, the city's drug policy coordinator,
told council's budgets committee.

He noted there is "considerable agreement" in Vancouver that several sites
are required for the project. "We're not sure if we're going to see two,
three, four sites or several sites as part of the research project."

Planning director Larry Beasley said the Coastal Health Authority, which is
reviewing possible sites in the Downtown Eastside, will submit the city's
application to take part in the research project within a week and that
Health Canada has 60 days to respond.

"It could be a shorter time or they could take longer if they have any
questions," he said.

Councillor Jim Green said the sites need to be open as quickly as possible.

"We're in a state of public-health emergency," he said.

MacPherson responded: "Every indication I've had from Health Canada is
they're prepared to go ahead as quickly as possible."

But Councillor Peter Ladner, one of the two members of the minority
Non-Partisan Association on council, was cynical about the need for speed.

"I think there's also a political emergency here because the mayor had
promised this by Jan. 1," he said.

Safe-injection sites were a key election issue for Mayor Larry Campbell and
the other eight council members belonging to the Coalition of Progressive
Electors, who had wanted to go ahead without waiting for the federal drug
trials. The NPA felt it was important to wait.

The trials seemed imminent after Health Canada released guidelines Jan. 3
for applying for an exemption for the research project under the Controlled
Drugs and Substances Act, which provides the legal framework for permanent
supervised injection sites.

MacPherson noted that a site may not need development permit approval if
already in operation as a health-care office or hospital.

He added: "While some progress has been made in reducing health risks for
injection drug users, external variables such as a post-Taliban Afghanistan
heroin crop that may hit Vancouver in the coming months requires a
readiness to implement potentially life-saving interventions."