Pubdate: Mon, 21 Aug 2006 Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC) Page: b01 Copyright: 2006 The Vancouver Sun Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477 Author: Chad Skelton, Vancouver Sun Alert: Save Lives by Preserving InSite http://www.mapinc.org/alert/0334.html Cited: British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS http://www.cfenet.ubc.ca Cited: 16th International AIDS Conference http://www.aids2006.org Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/InSite Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?142 (Supervised Injection Sites) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction) EX-MAYORS SUPPORT INJECTION SITE Harcourt, Owen and Campbell Will Call on the Federal Government to Renew Insite's Drug-Law Exemption VANCOUVER -- Three former mayors of Vancouver will appear together at a news conference today to call on the federal government to keep the city's supervised injection site open. Mike Harcourt, Philip Owen and Larry Campbell will sign a joint letter to the Conservative government asking them to renew the exemption under Canada's drug laws that has allowed the site to operate for the past three years. Without another exemption, the site -- known as Insite -- is due to close on Sept. 12. Mike Harcourt, a former NDP premier who served as mayor from 1980 to 1986, said the news conference is meant to highlight the broad-based political support behind Insite. "The vast majority of people that I talk to in Vancouver, whatever their politicsm see it as being a surprising success in preventing deaths from overdoses and lowering the HIV/AIDS and hepatitis rates from dirty needles," he said. "It's a solid success that should be allowed to continue." Owen served as mayor from 1993 to 2002 and Campbell, now a Liberal senator, oversaw Insite's creation during his term in office from 2002 to 2005. Current mayor Sam Sullivan is also a strong supporter of Insite and B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell, who served as Vancouver mayor from 1986 to 1993, has said he supports the site continuing. Supporters of North America's first legal injection site have stepped up their campaign to save it as the deadline for the government to decide whether or not to keep it open draws closer. In recent weeks, news releases in support of the site have been sent to reporters on a nearly daily basis and recent studies suggest the site has saved addicts' lives. Julio Montaner, director of the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, has called the injection site "the single most successful project I've ever been involved with," and argued that the evidence in favour of the site is "irrefutable." During last week's AIDS conference in Toronto, supporters of the site shut down traffic in downtown Toronto and former U.S. president Bill Clinton said injection sites are a vital tool in the fight against AIDS. The decision on whether or not to extend the site will be made by federal Health Minister Tony Clement. Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said in the past that his party, on principle, does not support measures that encourage drug use - leading some to believe the site will not continue. But Harcourt said he's optimistic. "I think they're going to renew it," he said. "I'd be shocked if they didn't." - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake