PUBLIC INVITED TO DEBATE ON INJECTION SITE

Can the federal government legally and ethically shut down the city's
supervised injection site?

That question will be debated at an Oct. 29 forum in the Downtown
Eastside featuring lawyers, nurses, drug users and business leaders.

The forum at Cinema 319 comes on the heels of federal Health Minister
Tony Clement's announcement to extend Insite's operating licence
until June 2008. It's the second extension for the injection site
since it opened in September 2003.

Clement has not allowed Insite to operate indefinitely because he and
Prime Minister Stephen Harper say the research is inconclusive.
Critics say the extensions are political cover for a Conservative
plan to shut down the site.

Although Health Canada is the federal body that reviews applications
for injection sites, the health minister has to sign off on the legal
paperwork. The minister of the day granted Insite an exemption under
the country's drug laws to operate as a scientific experiment.

Lawyer Monique Pongracic-Speier will speak at the forum about her
clients' lawsuit against the Attorney General of Canada.
Pongracic-Speier is one of three lawyers acting on behalf of drug
addicts Dean Wilson, Shelly Tomic and the PHS Community Services
Society, which operates Insite with Vancouver Coastal Health.

The suit argues that closing Insite means Wilson, Tomic and other
addicts "will face a risk of death or serious harm to their physical
and mental health.

"The services delivered at Insite promote the health and safety of
users, such as Wilson and Tomic, by reducing the transfer of
blood-borne pathogens associated with needle sharing and unhygienic
injection practices; providing wound care and infection control;
providing counselling and points of contact to maintain and improve
mental health; and preventing and treating overdoses," the suit says.

The suit argues that Insite falls under the jurisdiction of the
province, which is responsible for health. The suit also makes the
argument that closing Insite would deprive Wilson and Tomic of their
rights to "life, liberty and security" spelled out in the Charter of
Rights and Freedoms.

Pongracic-Speier told the Courier she's participating only to
"provide information as to what this lawsuit is and what it seeks to achieve."

The Attorney General of Canada's statement of defence "denies each
and every allegation" contained in the addicts' statement of claim.
Specifically, the Attorney General of Canada denies that Insite is a
public health service within the exclusive jurisdiction of the B.C.
government. It also denies the addicts' Charter argument.

The Oct. 29 forum is sponsored by the non-profit Keeping the Door
Open, whose members include the city's drug policy coordinator Donald
MacPherson. Joining Pongracic-Speier on the speakers' list are lawyer
John Conroy, nurse ethicist Dr. Bernie Pauly and Maxine Davis, the
executive director of the Dr. Peter Centre.

The forum begins at 5:30 p.m. at Cinema 319, which is located at 319 Main St..