U.S. WANTED VANCOUVER'S SUPERVISED INJECTION SITE CLOSED

OTTAWA - 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.

The ruling ordered a permanent exemption from Canada's Controlled
Drugs and Substances Act. The decision is expected to result in
similar supervised injection sites opening in other cities across Canada.

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.

Liberal MP Joyce Murray didn't believe Insite and the emergence of
more supervised injection sites across Canada would become an
irritant in relations with the U.S. But even if it does, she said
they are too important to appease another country.

"What the United States is doing and saying has nothing to do with
this," she said. "Canada has to make decisions that are in the
interests of the safety and the lives of Canadian citizens. And we
have to be able to stand up to the United States."

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.

And while American officials may disagree with the Supreme Court's
decision on Insite, Sands doesn't believe the issue will become a
major irritant.

"We might let you know we disapprove," he said. "But they're not
likely to make a bilateral issue out of it. There are bigger fish to fry."