Pubdate: Fri, 04 Sep 2015
Source: London Free Press (CN ON)
Copyright: 2015 The London Free Press
Contact: http://www.lfpress.com/letters
Website: http://www.lfpress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/243
Author: Kristy Kirkup
Page: B3

CODERRE BACKS DRUG-INJECTION SITES

Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre didn't hold back during a joint news
conference with Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau Thursday, promising to
ensure proposed drug-injection sites open in the city - even over
federal objections.

The mayor, who met Trudeau to discuss issues including safe injection
sites, has previously said he would give the federal government until
the end of summer to approve four sites in Montreal.

Coderre made it clear he will move ahead regardless.

"I will do it anyway," Coderre said.

Pressed for specifics on timing, the mayor said to stay tuned.

"It is coming; check the memo, you'll receive it," he
said.

The Supreme Court, Coderre said, has been clear on the effectiveness
of safe injection sites.

In a 2011 ruling, the high court ruled Vancouver's Insite location
saved lives and improved health without leading to higher drug use or
crime in the surrounding area.

The court said the government should "generally grant an exemption"
required to operate a supervised injection site legally if evidence
indicates the site will cut the risk of death and disease, and have
little impact on public safety.

The Conservative government proceeded to pass the Respect for
Communities Act, which sets out 26 criteria for reviewing an
application.

Several health groups, including the Canadian Nurses Association,
believe the new law is designed to block the creation of the injection
sites.

"It's about public safety," Coderre said. "It is about public health.
And all we are asking is to be consistent with what the Supreme Court
has said."

Trudeau praised Coderre's approach.

"Denis has an obligation to the citizens of Montreal to bring forward
solutions to make people's lives better, to keep them safe, and I
applaud him for moving forward on this," Trudeau said.

"I look forward to supporting him once we form the next
government."

Cactus Montreal is a community group that is expected to operate the
city's first safe injection site. Louis Letellier de St-Just, who
chairs the board of directors, said the mayor is doing "what he should
do."

"He is pushing this dossier forward," he said. "But the financing has
to come from somewhere, and it's not the city who will take it on -
it's the Quebec government which will finance it."

The Quebec government has approved Montreal's proposal but it is
unclear if money will flow if the feds do not provide the legal green
light.

Stephen Harper's Conservatives adamantly opposed the sites. Health
Minister Rona Ambrose has used the issue to take aim at Trudeau for
pledging to open "drug-injection houses."

Her spokesperson, Michael Bolkenius, said in a statement Thursday that
such places "allow the use of dangerous and addictive drugs that tear
families apart.

"We oppose, and are deeply concerned with, the Liberal leader's pledge
to blindly open drug injection houses in communities across Canada,"
Bolkenius said.

Coderre said he has a meeting scheduled for Friday with Green party
Leader Elizabeth May to discuss the issue, as he is trying to reach
out to all political leaders.

- - with files from Giuseppe Valiante
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt