HEALTH CANADA THROWS LIFELINE TO VANCOUVER SAFE INJECTION SITE

Cabinet Must Give Final Approval; Decision Comes After Three Former
Mayors Urge PM to Save Facility

VANCOUVER -- 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 has learned.

A regional health-administration source, speaking on condition of
anonymity, confirmed the situation Monday, 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 new Conservative government will renew it.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has expressed concerns about
taxpayer-supported drug use, suggesting to some critics that the
Tories will not support a program launched by the former Liberal government.

Three former Vancouver mayors Monday urged Harper to save
Insite.

Mike Harcourt, Philip Owen, and Larry Campbell appeared at a news
conference to sign a letter calling for the Tories to allow the site
to carry on.

"Mr. Harper, Insite is helping make a very troubled neighborhood safer
while providing medical attention to some of its most vulnerable
people," says the letter signed by the three former mayors. "Please
allow Insite to continue its work."

In the letter, the mayors suggests scientific data indicates Insite is
meeting objectives that include reducing overdose fatalities, reducing
the transmission of blood-borne infections such as HIV and hepatitis
C, reducing injection-related infections, improving public order and
increasing the number of addicts accessing health-care services.

The former mayors were critical of the Tories, but hopeful they will
allow Insite's work to continue.

"This is not a Liberal or a Conservative issue. What this issue is, is
about saving lives, about lowering our incidents of HIV and AIDS and
hepatitis. It's about public disorder, and it's about safer streets,"
said Campbell, now a Liberal senator.

"I think all governments believe in that."

Campbell said the Tories missed an opportunity to renew Insite's
exemption during last week's International AIDS Conference in Toronto.
But he suggested they can still reap political rewards from supporting
Insite.

"I think we should be optimistic."

Harcourt, who went from being Vancouver mayor eventually to being the
province's second NDP premier, also said he expects the Tories will
support Insite.

"I am hoping that a decision will happen soon, rather than at the 11th
hour."

Owen said he too is expecting a Tory green light.

"I think they're going to step forward and make the right decision,"
he said.

"They're going to listen to which way the wind is blowing on this, and
listen to the facts and make the right choice and hopefully it's
sooner rather than later."

Sam Sullivan, the current mayor, supports Insite, and has called on
the Tories to renew the exemption in three official visits to Ottawa
since he was elected last November.