RALLY TO SAVE INJECTION SITE

The Prime Minister Says His Priorities Are Elsewhere

Users of North America's only safe-injection site brought the case for
saving the facility yesterday to the constituency office of the
government minister who has vowed to fight for it.

But there was no sign of David Emerson, the Conservative MP for
Vancouver-Kingsway.

Still, the activist who rallied about 30 people to a boisterous but
peaceful rally said the effort was worthwhile.

"We brought drug users to his doorstep to say if you do support
[Insite], here are the people you need to support," said David
Cunningham, spokesman for the Anti-Poverty Committee.

Cunningham said it's time for Emerson to act: "We're here today to
force his hand into doing something pragmatic."

In Whitehorse yesterday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said his
government is "undertaking some evaluations" before making a decision
on the safe-injection site.

"But this government's concentration in the fight against drugs in the
next few years will be on enforcement, prevention and treatment,"
Harper told reporters.

During the last federal election campaign, Harper said a Tory
government "will not use taxpayers' money to fund drug use."

Insite clients at yesterday's rally included a man who gave his name
as "Angel" and said he's been going to the facility to use crystal
meth safely.

"I take comfort in knowing that I am being taken care of and I don't
have to really worry too much about the risks so much, as by having an
accident or overdosing in a back alley or in a hotel room," said the
27-year-old man. "They keep an eye on you."

Linus Malik, a former concrete finisher now on disability, said Insite
keeps him from overdosing on a mix of crack and heroin.

Emerson, the minister of international trade, has said he supports
Insite and will argue for Ottawa to renew a three-year exemption that
allows the use of otherwise illegal drugs there. The exemption expires
Sept. 12.

Doctors, AIDS activists and Premier Gordon Campbell have called on
Ottawa to renew the exemption, citing Insite's success at stemming
overdoses and diseases spread by injection-drug use.