INJECTION SITE SUPPORTERS EYE LEGAL ACTION

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government could find itself embroiled
in a legal battle if it decides to shut down Vancouver's safe
injection site.

"We would feel morally and legally obligated to attempt to keep it
open," said Mark Townsend, director of the Portland Hotel Society
(PHS), which oversees the site's operations.

Townsend stressed that he expects the Conservatives to allow
operations to continue once they finish reviewing evidence that it
saves lives and cuts down on HIV/AIDS.

But the group has asked a lawyer to look into legal arguments just in
case.

Alana Klein of the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network said a good case
could be made under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

A legal opinion on heroin maintenance treatment provided to PHS in May
by the Vancouver law firm Bull, Houser and Tupper echoed that conclusion.

Should the federal government shut down the program, which sees
addicts shoot heroin in a controlled environment, "a Charter challenge
has a reasonable chance of success."

The federal government is facing increasing pressure to renew a legal
exemption allowing the site to function.

Yesterday, supporters blocked one of Toronto's busiest intersections
for three minutes, while protesters in Vancouver marched down the
middle of Kingsway after gathering at MP David Emerson's constituency
office.