RCMP ATTEMPTED TO DISCREDIT INSITE, PIVOT LEGAL SOCIETY SAYS

Lawyer contends police commissioned research in an effort to
disparage supervised injection site

The Pivot Legal Society has asked federal Auditor-General Sheila
Fraser to examine whether the RCMP exceeded its law-enforcement
mandate by commissioning studies into Vancouver's supervised injection site.

Pivot lawyer and spokesman Doug King on Wednesday revealed RCMP
e-mails indicating the national police force commissioned reports
researching Insite.

"The RCMP Act gave the RCMP a mandate to act as peace officers for
the citizens of Canada. Using public funds entrusted to them to fund
a cynical critique of health-based research clearly does not fall
within this mandate," King said.

RCMP E Division spokeswoman Annie Linteau confirmed the RCMP paid for
the four studies.

"We do research on a regular basis on a variety of topics and issues.
So this is no different," she said.

One of the reports paid for by the RCMP was written by anti-harm
reduction activist Colin Mangham. Federal Health Minister Tony
Clement referred to Mangham's report when he argued academic research
into supervised injection sites was deeply divided.

Mangham's report found Insite responsible for "little or no reduction
in transmission of blood-borne diseases or public disorder, no impact
on overdose deaths in Vancouver."

One e-mail, written by then-RCMP Const. Chuck Doucette, states: "Dr.
Mangham's report has now been published. This e-mail contains a link
to the web page for the Journal of Global Drug Policy and Practice
and to his report. As per our request, the report has no reference to
the RCMP."

Linteau confirmed the RCMP paid $10,000 for that report and $5,000
for another. She could not say how much the RCMP paid for the other
two reports.

Doucette left the RCMP in July 2007 and now is the vice-president of
the Drug Prevention Network of Canada, which opposes Insite and harm
reduction as a primary method to limit the damage of illegal drug use.

King said he also wants an explanation of why Doucette required that
the report have "no reference to the RCMP."

Linteau said it "apparently had to do with Mr. Mangham publishing his
research, or something like that."

King, however, implied the RCMP did not want to be publicly connected
with the report.

"They are trying to wade into the area of scientific research and use
it as a tool to discredit Insite," King said.

Meanwhile, about 30 Insite supporters swarmed Prime Minister Stephen
Harper's Wednesday night campaign rally at Vancouver's Westin Bayshore hotel.

Amidst a heavy police presence, protesters unfurled a banner from the
hotel roof reading "Mr. Harper, trust the evidence, Insite saves
lives." A gospel choir sang Amazing Grace.

"The scientists say it saves lives, and the B.C. Supreme Court says
it is a health care facility, and people who inject drugs deserve a
right to health care," said longtime Strathcona resident Gillian Maxwell.

At last month's fifth anniversary of Insite's opening, a group of
eminent physicians and researchers sharply criticized Clement and
Harper for their desire to close the harm reduction facility.

Supporters -- who include Mayor Sam Sullivan and Premier Gordon
Campbell -- say it prevents overdoses of drugs and the spread of
HIV-AIDS, reduces the number of people injecting drugs publicly and
provides a safer environment for female drug users.

Other RCMP correspondence obtained through Freedom of Information
legislation refers to British Columbia's Centre for Excellence in
HIV/AIDS as the "Centre for Excrements." Linteau said she could not
comment on that e-mail because she had not yet read it.

The Harper government said in June it would appeal a B.C. Supreme
Court ruling that allowed the site to remain open indefinitely
because it provides a form of health care to which drug users have a right.

The site allows drug users to take their drugs in a safe environment
where they can receive treatment for health problems associated with drug use.

Neither Clement nor Doucette returned telephone calls Wednesday.