IMPLEMENTING PROCESS

Your paper reported on the future of safe injection sites in Canada (The
Sunday Herald, Nov. 10) and I would like to provide you with some
information that you may find useful for future coverage.

First, Health Canada is not promoting safe injection sites. Rather, the
department is putting in place a process by which communities that choose
to establish a pilot research project for a safe injection site will be
able to apply for the authorizations or exemptions under the Controlled
Drugs and Substance Act. The decision will be made based on a number of
criteria, including the support of key stakeholders.

The steps to implement this process include: determining the criteria that
Health Canada should consider in reviewing applications; providing a
guidance document for communities to use to submit applications; and
issuing authorizations or exemptions, where necessary, under the Controlled
Drugs and Substance Act, to sites that meet the requirements of that
legislation.

Currently, there are no proposals before Health Canada for review. Health
Canada will be in a position to receive proposals from interested
communities by the end of the year. Upon receipt of a complete application,
Health Canada will require approximately 60 days to review a proposal.

With respect to funding, as we are at the preliminary stages, no decisions
have been taken; in fact, no formal discussions have taken place. This
issue will be discussed with the provinces and territories as we move forward.

Anne McLellan, Minister of Health