PM BACKS TREATMENT

Stephen Harper Supports A Sewage Site, But Not A Safe-Injection Site

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's visit to Victoria provided a renewed
sense of optimism in the drive to build a sewage treatment plant in
the Capital Region, but he dashed the hopes of those who support
building a safe-injection site in the city.

During a media conference following his speech to the Greater
Victoria Chamber of Commerce Friday, Harper confirmed that the
federal government would be prepared to fund one-third of such a
project but called on local politicians to drive the sewage agenda.

"I'd like to see it high on the agenda," Harper said, adding that
"we would expect the initiative for that would come from municipal
authorities."

Afterward, Victoria Mayor Alan Lowe, who also chairs the Capital
Regional District board, said Harper's comments should help motivate
those municipalities that have yet to back sewage-treatment proposal.

"The ball is in the CRD's court and as chair of the CRD, I'm hoping
to lead this initiative," Lowe said. "One of the partners has said
they're willing to come on board; so if we'll be requiring sewage
treatment in the future you might as well jump at it when the money
is available."

Lowe said it's likely the CRD will begin costing out options once an
upcoming report on sewage treatment has been reviewed.

The $600,000 study by the Society of Environmental Toxicology and
Chemistry is slated for delivery in July.

Lowe also talked with Harper about the possibility of a
safe-injection site for Victoria's intravenous-drug-use community,
an idea that gathered momentum during Liberal Paul Martin's brief
tenure as prime minister.

But Harper, in keeping with his government's conservative position
on drug use, sounded less than enthusiastic about the idea.

"He's more than willing to meet with the various parties, but
safe-injection sites are totally against the platform of his
government; so it would be very difficult for him to come out and
say 'yes' or 'no,'" Lowe said.

The chamber of commerce urged Harper to push for redevelopment of
the Belleville ferry terminal, although chamber president Robin
Adair acknowledged the issue is relatively new to Harper.

"The prime minister was actually very responsive, but it's not
something the government has been hearing a lot about," Adair said.

Harper told reporters his government considers Belleville an
important "gateway" to Canada and is having some discussions with
the province about "priorities and sequencing."

Harper also unveiled proposed electoral reforms Friday, a promise to
work toward an elected senate and moving to fixed election dates,
with the first slated for sometime in the fall of 2009.

"I think those who have done it (including B.C.) have mixed feelings
about it because it does limit the government's advantage to some
degree," he said.

Like his predecessor, Paul Martin, Harper pledged to give B.C. more
MPs in the House of Commons.

B.C.'s share of federal ridings "departs substantially from the
principle of population," Harper noted.