U.S. WANTED B.C. INJECTION SITE CLOSED

Program Violates 'International Drug Control Treaties,' Leaked
Diplomatic Cable Says

A diplomatic cable shows U.S. officials opposed the Insite
supervised-injection site in Vancouver and wanted the federal and
municipal governments to shut it down.

The reference to Vancouver-based Insite is found in a U.S. Embassy
assessment of Canadian drug policy dated Nov. 2, 2009, and released
through Wikileaks.

The memo is generally favourable of the federal Conservative
government's efforts to clamp down on the production and distribution
of illicit drugs, including a national awareness campaign targeting
youth and parents.

"However, local and provincial authorities have embarked on a number
of so-called ' harm-reduction' programs," reads the cable, "including
a drug injection site and distribution of drug paraphernalia to
chronic users."

The document notes the federal government "continues to deliver a
sharp message" to cities and provinces about the programs, but called
for stronger action.

"Canada, or, as appropriate, municipalities such as Vancouver and
Ottawa, should implement the (International Narcotics Control Board's)
recommendations to eliminate drug injection sites and drug
paraphernalia distribution programs," the cable reads, "because they
violate international drug control treaties."

The INCB is an independent body established to monitor implementation
of UN international drug control conventions. It has been the subject
of some controversy for demanding rigid adherence to strict drug
control laws.

The Supreme Court of Canada on Friday overrode the federal
government's refusal to grant a permit extension to Insite, located in
Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. The judges unanimously ruled that the
government's actions were "arbitrary," that closing the clinic would
endanger the health and safety of Insite users, and the issue was
ultimately a provincial matter, not federal.

Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said while the federal government is
disappointed with the ruling, it will comply. Her office did not
respond to questions about discussions with the U.S. on Insite.

The U.S. Embassy said it did not have any comment on Friday's Supreme
Court decision.

Chris Sands, a Canada-U.S. expert at the Washington, D.C.-based Hudson
Institute, didn't believe U.S. officials were actively pressuring the
government to crack down on Insite. That's because the Conservative
government shared U.S. opposition to supervised-injection sites.