NDP CANDIDATES STRONGLY ENDORSE HARM REDUCTION DRUG STRATEGY

Harm reduction initiatives like needle exchanges and Vancouver's safe
injection site are more strongly endorsed by NDP candidates than
their Liberal counterparts, according to a survey of candidates
running in the provincial election.

Of the 73 Liberal candidates who responded to The Sun's online
survey, only 10 strongly agreed with the statement: "Harm reduction
measures like needle exchanges and the supervised injection site are
a good idea."

Among the 71 NDP candidates who filled out the survey, 29 strongly
agreed with the statement, as did 23 of 53 Green candidates.

The vast majority of the remaining Liberal, NDP and Green candidates
agreed with the statement, with the exception of three Liberals and
one NDP candidate who disagreed.

Health Minister George Abbott said he strongly agrees with harm
reduction measures because they are part of a continuum of services
to combat the challenges of addiction.

While Abbott conceded there are differences of opinion regarding the
controversial initiatives and no simple solutions to drug addiction,
he believes his Liberal colleagues are generally aligned in their
support for harm reduction.

Vancouver Coastal Health, the City of Vancouver, and the province
support Insite, but the federal government does not.

Federal lawyers have been before the B.C. Court of Appeal this week
trying to overturn a lower court ruling that allowed Insite to stay
open, arguing it is not the government's responsibility to provide a
supervised place to inject illegal drugs.

Randy Hawes, running for his third term as the MLA for Maple
Ridge-Mission, was one of the three Liberal candidates who indicated
they did not support harm reduction initiatives.

In an interview, Hawes said it was because there is nowhere in his
hometown of Mission to put a needle exchange or injection site
without making local businesses "evaporate quickly."

"It's one thing to be in a metropolitan area, where there are areas
more conducive to needle exchanges and safe injection sites. The main
street of Mission is not one of them," Hawes said.

NDP leader Carole James and Adrian Dix, the Opposition health critic,
both strongly agree with harm reduction initiatives.

However, Dix argued that the Liberal government has failed to
properly fund other services that are also needed for people
struggling with drug addiction, such as treatment and prevention initiatives.

"If anyone believes that we save money by not providing mental health
and addiction services, they are wrong," Dix said.

Green leader Jane Sterk, who also strongly agrees with harm reduction
services, said her party, if elected, would go even further to help
those struggling with addictions, such as endorsing programs that
provide low doses of illicit drugs to addicts as a form of
maintenance to help them get stabilized.

One New Democrat and six Liberals -- including Attorney-General Wally
Oppal, Housing Minister Rich Coleman, and Environment Minister Barry
Penner -- refused to answer the question.

Coleman said he didn't respond because Insite and needle exchanges
are just part of the services that should be offered to drug addicts,
along with methadone treatment, abstinence-based programs, and others.

Nearly every Liberal, NDP and Green candidate who answered The Sun's
survey agreed or strongly agreed that B.C. needs more social housing
with services to help the addicted and mentally ill.

Coleman said the federal government -- historically the builder of
social housing -- hasn't been a big player in this area for many years.

He argued other social service programs, like rent assistance, are
also helping people to stay off the streets.

But the NDP's Dix said more action is required more quickly.