FACTS OVER IDEOLOGY

It's sad to think of how much good could have been done with the
taxpayers' money wasted by the federal government in its ideological
fight to close the Insite supervised drug injection site in Vancouver.

The government has ignored the evidence, and despite repeated legal
defeats, insisted on taking the issue to the Supreme Court of Canada.

The court's nine justices were unanimous. The benefits from Insite --
in lives saved, illness prevented, reduction in community disorder --
were "grossly disproportionate" to the government's arguments for
closing it. "During its eight years of operation, Insite has been
proven to save lives with no discernible negative impact on the public
safety and health objectives of Canada," the court said.

Supervised injection sites such as Insite should be just one part of
an effective approach to drug abuse. They have been proven to reduce
harm and increase access to services and treatment. They have also
been proven not to increase or legitimize drug use.

Now that the court ruling has ended the government's costly legal
campaign, it's time to consider if a safer injection site is needed
here. The expense, based on Insite's experience, could easily be
repaid in reduced health-care costs. The community would welcome fewer
people injecting in public, or less safe places. And, if treatment is
available, drug abuse would be reduced.