MORE VOICES TO JOIN DECISION ON INSITE

Justice and Public Safety Ministers Will Also Have Say

Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day and Justice Minister Vic Toews
will weigh in on the federal government's decision on whether to keep
Vancouver's safe injection site open.

"That was news," said Gillian Maxwell, of the advocacy group InSite
for Community Safety (IFCS). "It clearly means the decision process is
a little more complex than we thought."

She received the information during a meeting in Ottawa yesterday with
Joanne Kennelly, who is senior policy adviser to Health Minister Tony
Clement.

Advocates have been lobbying Clement to renew an exemption to the
Drugs and Controlled Substances Act, which has allowed InSite to
function for the past three years. The exemption runs out Sept. 12.

"The national framework for drug strategy has been under Health Canada
for years, which is why we've been able to treat it as a health issue
and treat people accordingly," Maxwell said.

"So it was a little surprising to hear that these other ministries
will be included in the decision."

Toews has been critical of the facility in the past, telling reporters
in 2004, "The safe injection sites aren't safe. There have been more
deaths in Vancouver than before the safe injection sites were put in
place."

To date, there have been more than 500 overdoses at InSite, with no
deaths.

Maxwell said the group will attempt to meet with Toews and Day, but
added that she felt good about the meeting with Kennelly.

Requests for comment from Toews and Day were directed to Clement's
office, which has told Metro Vancouver that the ministry is reviewing
research on In-Site before making a decision.