TAKE ROCK UP ON HIS OFFER

Health Minister Allan Rock isn't the Vancouver Sun's favourite politician
- -- we've criticized him for an inept effort to secure enough of the
antibiotic Cipro to treat anthrax in the event of a widespread terrorist
attack, lack of leadership on health-care reform and his past mishandling
of both gun-control laws and Brian Mulroney's lawsuit over the RCMP's
Airbus allegations.

But let's give credit where it's due: Allan Rock has shown much-needed
political courage in advocating safe-injection sites where hard-drug users
can shoot up.

His critics say he hasn't gone far enough -- that by requiring the written
commitment of the provincial government, the city, the health board and the
police force he has created insurmountable obstacles.

However, it's not unreasonable for him to begin such a controversial
undertaking with the idea that all the affected parties should be on-side.

Of course, implementing such a policy will yet require real determination
and political skill. Many observers presume the police will never support
such a move. Yet police officers see the futility of existing approaches to
hard-drug addiction every day. They witness the destruction of human life,
and they must cope with the endemic theft that addicts engage in to pay for
their next fix. Former B.C. chief coroner Larry Campbell, an RCMP officer
for much of his professional life, has become one of the province's most
outspoken advocates of new approaches, such as safe-injection sites for
heroin addicts.

Although Vancouver city council is divided on this issue, Mayor Philip Owen
has has the wisdom to provide the first real leadership in years, and we
see Mr. Rock's support as his cue to press vigourously ahead.

Premier Gordon Campbell hasn't committed himself one way or the other, but
he should.

He can't afford to ignore a program that could result in real financial
savings to the health and criminal justice systems.

Mr. Rock's move is just a beginning, just one more step down a difficult path.

But we applaud it, because the status quo is too grim to endure.