DRUG DEALERS ARE LAUGHING

Taxpayer-Funded Crack Kits End Up Next To Playground

Two weeks ago, Ann McKenny and Anne Clune stumbled upon a cache of
used needles and "safer crack kit" paraphernalia -- left mere steps
from the children's playground in the Sumach-Shuter park.

The two Cabbagetown residents were appalled, not just at the
discovery hypodermic syringes, crack pipes, matches, alcohol pads and
matches "lying loose" in the grass, but at the city of Toronto and
Toronto public health logos emblazoned on many of the items.

They even found a pamphlet from The Works (a public health needle
exchange program) which suggests people (drug users, one supposes)
call 416-392-0250 with any questions.

McKenny said she reported their find to the police and the city's
parks department. She has yet to receive a response from either.

As she pointed out to me yesterday, the "very active" children's
playground is also kitty-corner to Nelson Mandela Elementary School
and a community arena.

"I was most concerned because this is a park that's well-used
particularly by small kids ... who have no idea how dangerous these
things are," McKenny said.

When she heard Coun. Kyle Rae and public health officials launch
their $300,000 Toronto drug strategy this past Friday, she could
hardly believe her ears.

The strategy's 66 recommendations propose -- among other things --
that the city broaden its "innovative" harm-reduction strategies (the
report's words, not mine), including the distribution of crack use kits.

"Harm-reduction" sites and services encourage illegal drug users and
alcoholic street people to continue to ingest their poisons using
clean equipment in a safe environment. The theory is that it will
eventually lead to fewer overdoses and less open use of drugs on the street.

The report suggests harm-reduction services be expanded throughout
the city, that more hourly glasses of wine be served to alcoholics in
more shelters besides Seaton House, and that Toronto's Affordable
Housing office consider creating harm-reduction housing (with our tax
dollars, yet!)

A "top priority" is to study the need for controversial
safe-injection sites (renamed "safe consumption" sites in this
report) modelled on those in Vancouver and Amsterdam.

"So many of the things that have come out of City Hall in the past
few years, I can hardly believe I'm living in a civilized country,"
said McKenny.

I agree. It's not just the leftist obsession with touchy-feely
harm-reduction programs, which are as yet unproven. But this report
seems to suggest, at least to me, that City Hall sanctions the use of
illegal drugs.

At Friday's launch, Rae insisted their goal was not to stop people
using drugs. "It's just not going to happen," he said.

'Killing, Not Saving'

Yet medical officer of health Dr. David McKeown conceded the
"evidence was not there yet" to prove things like crack kits actually
prevent disease.

After viewing the dirty drug paraphernalia found in the playground, I
have to question whether city officials are more concerned about
"harm reduction" for drug users than they are for innocent schoolchildren.

McKenny calls giving public funds to enable drug use "one of the most
horrific things" she's heard of. "Public money is going towards
killing rather than saving people," she said.

If drug deals are behind much of the gunplay of recent months, won't
more crack kits and injection sites just exacerbate the violence?

Cabbagetown resident Joice Guspie reminded me that the drugs still
need to be supplied for the kits and "well-organized" drug dealers
know where the kits are being handed out.

"They're absolutely laughing at the fools at City Hall," said Guspie,
the mother of a 14-year-old daughter, adding she fears Rae will try
to push an injection site on their neighbourhood.

"What a sad message to send out to our children ... that now you can
have a safe, warm, cozy place to do your crack," she said. "And the
people who run this city don't feel they can help you with treatment."