INJECTION SITE TIME IS NOW

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

We agree wholeheartedly with Dr. Mark Tyndall that "the time is now"
to open a safe injection site in Ottawa.

Ottawa is lucky to have found a champion in Tyndall, who has the
knowledge and experience - from years working in Vancouver's Downtown
Eastside - required to see such an important project through to
completion. We applaud his efforts.

Indeed, there are many Canadians in jurisdictions across this country
in need of champions like Tyndall. After the recent Supreme Court
ruling to keep Insite open, we hope that decision-makers Canadawide
will act fearlessly to make similar harm reduction services available
to those in need in their locales.

We need leaders who are unafraid to act with reason and compassion,
and who do not confuse dogged ideology with good public-health
practices.

Now that Canada's highest court has made its landmark decision, there
should be nothing standing in their way.

Richard Elliott, Toronto Executive Director, Canadian HIV/ AIDS Legal
Network