VANITY PLATES NEEDLE COUNCIL MEMBERS

The Toronto Public Health needle exchange program has three vans on
the road and each one has a personalized vanity licence plate,
angering some councillors who view it as a waste of taxpayers' money.

"It's ridiculous," Councillor Rob Ford said. "The vanity plates are
another example of a complete waste of taxpayers' money. Why are we
paying for people's home delivery of needles anyways? It's absurd and
appalling, if you ask me."

Councillor Doug Holyday said in other departments "they differentiate
vehicles like Toronto parks, fire trucks and buses by a code number
on the vehicle. It's a far less expensive way of identifying vehicles
and that system works for everyone else."

Shaun Hopkins, manager of The Works, the needle exchange program run
by Toronto Public Health, said the vanity plates were purchased at
least 10 years ago.

The three vans have personalized licence plates displaying: WORKS1,
WORKS2, WORKS3.

"We may have paid $100 each for them back then as a one-time expense.
They were purchased so people in our target population would know
what the van was for," Hopkins said.

Hopkins said the vans used to be low-key and it was a way to help
their target population feel comfortable flagging down the correct
vehicle. Since then, the vans have been changed and there's extensive
identification on the doors.

"We have new vans, but we took the old plates off the old ones and
put them on the new vans and keep renewing the sticker on the licence
plate," Hopkins said.

The Works' mandate is to prevent the spread of communicable disease
in drug users and sex trade workers. Services include distribution of
needles and other safer drug use materials, condoms and testing for
diseases and illnesses.