Pubdate: Thu, 9 Oct 2008
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2008 The Vancouver Sun
Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/letters.html
Website: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: David Hogben, Vancouver Sun
Cited: Pivot Legal Society http://www.pivotlegal.org/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Insite (Insite)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?142 (Supervised Injection Sites)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?236 (Corruption - Outside U.S.)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction)

RCMP ATTEMPTED TO DISCREDIT INSITE, PIVOT LEGAL SOCIETY SAYS

Lawyer contends police commissioned research in an effort to 
disparage supervised injection site

The Pivot Legal Society has asked federal Auditor-General Sheila 
Fraser to examine whether the RCMP exceeded its law-enforcement 
mandate by commissioning studies into Vancouver's supervised injection site.

Pivot lawyer and spokesman Doug King on Wednesday revealed RCMP 
e-mails indicating the national police force commissioned reports 
researching Insite.

"The RCMP Act gave the RCMP a mandate to act as peace officers for 
the citizens of Canada. Using public funds entrusted to them to fund 
a cynical critique of health-based research clearly does not fall 
within this mandate," King said.

RCMP E Division spokeswoman Annie Linteau confirmed the RCMP paid for 
the four studies.

"We do research on a regular basis on a variety of topics and issues. 
So this is no different," she said.

One of the reports paid for by the RCMP was written by anti-harm 
reduction activist Colin Mangham. Federal Health Minister Tony 
Clement referred to Mangham's report when he argued academic research 
into supervised injection sites was deeply divided.

Mangham's report found Insite responsible for "little or no reduction 
in transmission of blood-borne diseases or public disorder, no impact 
on overdose deaths in Vancouver."

One e-mail, written by then-RCMP Const. Chuck Doucette, states: "Dr. 
Mangham's report has now been published. This e-mail contains a link 
to the web page for the Journal of Global Drug Policy and Practice 
and to his report. As per our request, the report has no reference to 
the RCMP."

Linteau confirmed the RCMP paid $10,000 for that report and $5,000 
for another. She could not say how much the RCMP paid for the other 
two reports.

Doucette left the RCMP in July 2007 and now is the vice-president of 
the Drug Prevention Network of Canada, which opposes Insite and harm 
reduction as a primary method to limit the damage of illegal drug use.

King said he also wants an explanation of why Doucette required that 
the report have "no reference to the RCMP."

Linteau said it "apparently had to do with Mr. Mangham publishing his 
research, or something like that."

King, however, implied the RCMP did not want to be publicly connected 
with the report.

"They are trying to wade into the area of scientific research and use 
it as a tool to discredit Insite," King said.

Meanwhile, about 30 Insite supporters swarmed Prime Minister Stephen 
Harper's Wednesday night campaign rally at Vancouver's Westin Bayshore hotel.

Amidst a heavy police presence, protesters unfurled a banner from the 
hotel roof reading "Mr. Harper, trust the evidence, Insite saves 
lives." A gospel choir sang Amazing Grace.

"The scientists say it saves lives, and the B.C. Supreme Court says 
it is a health care facility, and people who inject drugs deserve a 
right to health care," said longtime Strathcona resident Gillian Maxwell.

At last month's fifth anniversary of Insite's opening, a group of 
eminent physicians and researchers sharply criticized Clement and 
Harper for their desire to close the harm reduction facility.

Supporters -- who include Mayor Sam Sullivan and Premier Gordon 
Campbell -- say it prevents overdoses of drugs and the spread of 
HIV-AIDS, reduces the number of people injecting drugs publicly and 
provides a safer environment for female drug users.

Other RCMP correspondence obtained through Freedom of Information 
legislation refers to British Columbia's Centre for Excellence in 
HIV/AIDS as the "Centre for Excrements." Linteau said she could not 
comment on that e-mail because she had not yet read it.

The Harper government said in June it would appeal a B.C. Supreme 
Court ruling that allowed the site to remain open indefinitely 
because it provides a form of health care to which drug users have a right.

The site allows drug users to take their drugs in a safe environment 
where they can receive treatment for health problems associated with drug use.

Neither Clement nor Doucette returned telephone calls Wednesday. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake