This is an archive of news stories and research from the National Union of Public and General Employees. Please see our new site - https://nupge.ca - for the most current information.
It has proven its worth to the Vancouver community.
Insite - Supervised Injection Site - Vancouver Coastal HealthOttawa (21 July 2006) - The National Union has joined with a growing number of community activists in asking the federal government to keep Vancouver's safe injection site program, Insite, open (text of letter to the Prime Minister is below).
Tony Clement, federal Minister of Health, must renew the programs exemption under Section 56 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act or Insite will face closure on September 12th.
Vancouver's chief of police has recently supported the continuation of the program. But will the "tough on crime" Tories? NUPGE
| July 20, 2006
The Right Hon. Stephen Harper, P.C., M.P. Dear Prime Minister, On behalf of the National Union, I am writing you about Vancouver’s Insite, North America’s first supervised safe injection facility. In particular I want to urge your government to renew the exemption under Section 56 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act for the program. I understand this renewal must occur in the very near future or Insite will face closure on September 12th. Since its launch in September 2003, as part of a three-year study, research on the Insite program has shown:
As a harm reduction strategy for drug-users, the Insite program can be seen as highly successful. Furthermore, a recent scientific evaluation of Vancouver’s medically supervised safe injection facility shows not only that the program has a positive impact in improving public health but also acts as a crime reduction measure. The evidence is that there has been a significant decline in break-ins and thefts since Insite’s opening. Indeed, the Vancouver chief of police recently called for the ongoing operation of the facility for another three years. The hard evidence is showing us that safe injection sites can be an important component of a strategy to address the drug crisis in many urban areas. It has proven its worth to the Vancouver community. I urge your government to renew the exemption under Section 56 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act in a timely manner. Yours sincerely, James Clancy |