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. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake