INSITE SUPPORT STRONGER ON THE LEFT

Greens, NDP Would Expand Program; Liberals Cautious

When it comes to Vancouver's supervised injection site, the North
Shore's left-leaning candidates are all for it -- although those
closest to the centre have reservations.

"In theory, I think Insite is a good idea that has merit," said Ian
Sutherland, Liberal candidate for the West Vancouver-Sunshine
Coast-Sea to Sky Country riding. "I think the program has to be
looked at in a bit more detail, and maybe some of the rules around it
changed a little bit."

The downtown facility, which allows drug addicts to inject narcotics
under medical supervision, has been the subject of controversy since
it opened five years ago. The site operates under a temporary
exemption from federal drug laws. The Conservative government, which
has expressed serious misgivings about its operation, has extended
the exemption more than once, but has so far refused to make it permanent.

Sutherland, asked what he would change about the facility, said he
didn't know enough to offer specific suggestions. "People (should)
get together and take a total review of the program and see what's
working and see what's not working and then improve it based on that
information," he said.

North Vancouver's Liberal candidate, Don Bell, was similarly cautious
in his support.

"There may be ways that the program can be amended, but it has been
supported by the local government and I think we need to respect that
decision," he said.

Those who oppose the site are looking at it the wrong way, said Bell.
"I have heard the statements from a couple of conservative
commentators that this is a lifestyle choice," he said. "(Users) may
have got it through a lifestyle choice, but the fact of the matter is
it is now a disease and it needs to be treated as such."

But Bell sees Insite as only part of the solution.

"We need to have rehab, we need to have housing, we need to help them
with jobs," he said. "To do nothing is to simply stand on the shore
and watch them drown."

The North Shore's Conservative candidates were less decisive in their
support. West Vancouver candidate John Weston didn't come out in
favour of the site, but nor would he say he wanted to see it closed.
"The government hasn't decided that yet," he said. "I support the
approach to continue to review the results of Insite."

Government should take a compassionate approach to drug addiction
that balances crime fighting with rehabilitation, he added.

Andrew Saxton, Weston's North Vancouver counterpart, was similarly
hesitant to offer wholehearted support. "I think the best way to help
people who have an addiction is through helping them get treatment,"
said Saxton.

Asked whether that meant he'd like to see Insite closed, he said no.

"We have to look at many ways," said Saxton. "It's a multi-faceted approach."

But the North Shore's Green candidates were markedly uncharitable
toward the Tories' approach.

"I really think this is . . . a case of science over ideology," said
Jim Stephenson, Green candidate for the North Vancouver riding. "So
far the public pressure to keep this program going has won the day.

But of course the Conservatives keep doing it in short-term
extensions instead of embracing it as a solution."

Blair Wilson, Green candidate for the West Vancouver riding, was
similarly minded.

"We should increase it and move it on to other cities who are asking
for it," he said. "The Conservatives fight that tooth and nail and
want it shut down. It's much like global warming. They were denying
the science (of climate change) for the past 10 or 15 years and now
they're starting to believe. I think the same thing is going to
happen with Insite."

The NDP were also unconditional in their support.

"We need to stop vilifying (addicts)," said North Vancouver candidate
Michael Charrois. "It's not a matter of treatment versus harm
reduction. It's not an either-or thing. You have to have Insite as a
harm-reduction tool in order to get people into rehabilitation."

Charrois's thoughts were echoed by his counterpart in West Vancouver.

"In addition to harm reduction, it has been a referral service," said
NDP candidate Bill Forst. "It's amazing how unanimous it is that
Insite has been an effective program for the Downtown Eastside."