SURREY, VANCOUVER MAYORS FACE OFF ON MUNICIPAL DRUG POLICIES

Two mayors with vastly different drug strategies -- Surrey's Doug McCallum
and Vancouver's Larry Campbell -- will be seated together at a municipal
drug conference this week.

"The plan is to put them side by side at the table so they can have a
discussion," said Lower Mainland Municipal Association president Bob Fearnley.

"Personally, I sense a thawing of the relationship. If we don't work
together, we'll never get on top of the situation."

McCallum has a "get-tough" approach in downtown Whalley, including removing
the needle exchange, while Campbell plans to open a safe-injection site in
Vancouver on March 1.

Fearnley believes a multi-faceted approach is needed, including education,
health and enforcement.

"If you want to see a different approach, look at Abbotsford. There is no
harm reduction, period," said Fearnley, a North Vancouver City councillor.

Former Vancouver mayor Philip Owen, a big believer in harm reduction, will
address Thursday's meeting.