RECONSIDER AN INSITE PROGRAM FOR OTTAWA

Re: Police, mayor oppose safe injection site, Oct. 1.

I am terribly disappointed in Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson and Police Chief
Vern White for opposing the implementation of a safe injection site
for Ottawa.

The Insite program has proven time and time again its effectiveness in
preventing the spread of infections such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C
through providing clean facilities and equipment, and in referring
clients to treatment.

Insite users are also 30 per cent more likely to access and
participate in treatment programs for their addictions.

Among the supporters of the Insite program in Vancouver are doctors,
members of Parliament, police officers, university professors,
business owners, HIV/AIDS organizations, health professionals, and as
we recently heard, the Supreme Court of Canada itself.

I call upon the mayor and chief of police to re-examine their position
regarding having a facility such as Insite, and to live out their
responsibilities to all citizens of Ottawa, including drug users.

Alison Kemp

Ottawa