NEEDLE EXCHANGE TOUCHY SUBJECT

'It Will Be a Challenging Discussion on Both Sides,' Mayor Peary
Says

Abbotsford Mayor George Peary, whose city lies within the so-called
Bible Belt, says the prospect of a needle exchange coming to the city
will be a prickly subject.

"Support for a needle exchange is not unanimous. It will be a
challenging discussion on both sides," said Peary Thursday. "I'm
trying to be open-minded. I'm not as intransigent as I was five years
ago."

Peary said council will review the city's zoning bylaw that virtually
bans harm-reduction measures such as methadone clinics and needle exchanges.

Medical professionals say that needle exchanges help reduce the spread
of hepatitis C, a deadly disease that is contracted by sharing dirty
needles.

Council will be asked June 7 to approve a staff review of the city's
harm-reduction options, ranging from "doing nothing" all the way to a
needle exchange. If council approves the review, public meetings will
follow in the city of 145,000.

It's not known what actions councillors will take -- none responded to
interview requests. Nor is the mayor sure what manner of harm
reduction he supports.

But the initiative was met with outright skepticism by Barry Shantz,
who says he became an advocate for the drug-addicted as a result of
his prison experiences. "I don't believe a word the mayor says. It's
all b------t," Shantz said. "The aura in this community is about
ignorance and clinging to moral values. I have been told it is
political suicide for a councillor to bring this up."

A 2001 report from Statistics Canada -- the most recent year available
- -- shows that a large number of Abbotsford residents have a religious
affiliation, 87,629. Only 25,890 had none.

Major Brian Venables, spokesman for B.C. Salvation Army churches, said
churches have strong views about drug addiction.

"Faiths require a control over what you do with your body, because
your body is a holy temple," he said. "When you inject an illicit
foreign substance, that's not looking after your body."

While the Salvation Army wouldn't distribute needles itself, Venables
said the church wouldn't object to their disbursement by responsible
authorities, because "that's protecting citizens."

He doesn't subscribe to the theory that religious conservatism is at
the root of policies restricting harm reduction.

"Just because Abbotsford is in the so-called Bible Belt, I don't think
it's any different than any other caring community," he said.

Representatives of the business community, whose concerns are usually
not about social matters, said council has a difficult job.

David Hull, executive director of the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce,
said the chamber doesn't have an official position on a needle exchange.

"It's controversial. Emotions get wrapped up. I guarantee you there
will be letters to the editor.

"We encourage council to look at the issue without emotion and make
the right decision. Having homeless on the streets drags the city
down," he said.