'CHAMBER OF DEAD' PERFECT SPOT FOR SENATOR LARRY

To the editor:

Re: "Senator takes issue with Ball's take," Letters, June 2.

Larry Campbell is clearly under the illusion that he left an historic
legacy as Vancouver mayor that needs vigilant defence. How else to
explain his ongoing sniping at Sam Sullivan through letters to the
editor? Sullivan, admittedly is an easy target.

Larry's proudest achievement is the supervised injection site. Every
testimonial to that dubious experiment is filled with evasive terms,
weasel words and the veiled potential of unproved benefits. That's
because its promoters can't produce any hard data showing a
significant impact on crime, disease and addiction.

And Larry did launch the first of a string of addict hotels to be
built throughout the city. Occupants of Larry's Lodges will not get
treatment on site nor, in fact, will they be obliged to partake in
any kind of treatment. The only staff they will ever have to deal
with is a solitary untrained desk clerk who will hand them their key
as they come and go at all hours.

This will cost taxpayers $72,000 per addict annually. By comparison,
an old age pensioner can max out at about $11,000 a year in Canada
Pension after a lifetime of hard work.

Perhaps Larry's most memorable legacy is the five-minute tantrum he
directed at Steven Harper before the last election. For that, he was
rewarded with a Senate seat by a grateful Paul Martin.

Throughout his life, Larry has been famous for his starring roles
among dead people. First as Coroner and later as head of COPE.

He should do just fine in the Senate.

Victor Godin

Vancouver