DON'T CLOSE INSITE

I think Prime Minister Stephen Harper is aware of the fact that
Vancouver's safe-injection site has been beneficial in reducing the
spread of HIV and other blood-born diseases like hepatitis C, and
that alone should be sufficient reason to keep the project going.

Insite has been a bone of contention from the get-go and much of that
contention flowed from the United Nations.

The human condition in part of Vancouver's downtown eastside -- home
to most of these addicts -- is appalling and, until someone can come
up with a better plan to get these people off heroin, it makes sense
to allow the site to continue to exist, with or without the UN's
blessing. If we are in violation of some international drug treaty, so be it.

The Conservatives' focus on the "war on drugs" hopefully will
encompass tougher sentencing laws. Heavy-duty drug traffickers and
drug manufacturers for too long have received nothing more than token
sentences.

With the increasing drug-related homicides in this city alone, it
should be clear to legislators that it's time to get tough with these people.

We need more police in every city across the country to assist in
rooting out these deadbeats. That is a promise Harper made some time
ago, and I expect him to keep it.

Donna McMartin,

Edmonton