FIRED UP ABOUT CRACK PIPES

Top Bureaucrats Set For Showdown As Council Revisits Approval Of
Controversial Plan

One Of them fights disease. One of them fights crime. But the city's
medical officer of health Dr. Robert Cushman and police chief Vince
Bevan could soon have their own public showdown over a controversial
new program that puts crack-pipe kits in the hands of drug addicts.

More councillors are now calling for a more thorough debate on the
program meant to stop Hep C from spreading in the community and are
calling on the two to present their evidence.

But one councillor says it should never have come to
this.

"I think it's unfortunate they didn't get together and talk about this
ahead of time," said Coun. Maria McRae.

McRae said Cushman and Bevan should have sat down and worked out their
differences over the program long before Bevan held a news conference
at which he criticized the idea on the very day the program was launched.

As Cushman and Bevan prepare their arguments, councillors are lining
up on both sides and testing the political waters to decide what
stance they'll take on the issue.

But the opinions of some councillors have already been
set.

"It's not going to have any effect in the real problem," Coun. Jan
Harder said, noting she might be able to support such a program if it
were part of a larger effort to reduce drug use through rehabilitation
and enforcement.

But the province is not spending enough on rehabilitation and drug
treatment programs, she said.

Several politicians appear to have been caught by surprise at the
public reaction and outcry over the program. The decision to
distribute the devices was made last October at a health, recreation
and social services committee meeting and despite heavy media
attention, few critics appeared.

CHANGING VIEWS

But now, Bevan has come out against the program and councillors Diane
Deans and Rick Chiarelli, two of the councillors who were on the
committee that allowed the program to go forward, say they want the
issue to be reconsidered.

One of the few councillors who spoke out against the plan last year
has also switched sides. Coun. Alex Cullen was against the decision to
hand out the kits but now says he's been convinced by Cushman's evidence.

"It is a difficult issue but in the end I'm convinced that more lives
will be saved as a result of this program," said Cullen.

"This notion of revisiting is damage control."

Ottawa Police Services Board chairman Herb Kreling said he thinks the
issue shows why the country needs a national drug strategy. But until
that strategy is created, Kreling appears to be sticking with the
police view and wants council to get a second look at the debate.

"This is a type of program that deserves that," said Kreling.