INSITE WIN A TRIUMPH AND RELIEF

Last Friday's decision by the Supreme Court of Canada to keep
Vancouver's safe injection site open is a triumph for common sense.

Study after study has concluded that Insite saves lives. Local
politicians from across the political spectrum have concluded that
Insite saves lives. This week, Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin
concluded that "Insite saves lives."

Surely, preventing citizens from dying is the hallmark of good public
policy, yet our Conservative federal government has spent years-and
an unconscionable amount of your money-fighting to shut Insite down.
It's absurd that this question was even put before the highest court
in the land, demonstrated by its unanimous, bluntly worded ruling.

It is a tremendous relief to see that in at least one branch of our
government, evidence still trumps ideology, that policies are founded
on fact rather than wishful thinking.

Heroin addicts aren't the most sympathetic figures in our society and
assisting them in their addiction does seem counter-intuitive.

But providing them with clean equipment and a safe, supervised space
buys them some time to get help, especially when that help is ready
and waiting in the same room.

Throwing addicts back onto our streets with dirty needles would not
only be a serious public health hazard, it would be morally outrageous.

This battle is not over. We need more facilities like Insite and each
one will likely face fierce opposition.

We urge our federal politicians to respect science and support these
programs-or at least get out of the way.