Frustration grows over the delayed approval of a second supervised injection site in Vancouver

published on January 7, 2015 by Marcella Bernardo, in CKNW

Could the fact it’s an election year be responsible for the Conservative government’s delayed approval of a second supervised injection site in Vancouver?

It’s now been a year since the application was submitted to Health Canada. Vancouver’s chief medical health officer –Doctor Patricia Daly– admits that’s frustrating.

“We know that working it’s way through the federal government right now is a new bill called The Defence of Communities Act drafted after the successful InSite Supreme Court case. This new bill would make it very, very difficult for anyone to operate a supervised injection site.”

She adds, since Canada’s highest court upheld the continued operation of InSite, no others have been allowed to open.

“It’s discouraging that not only have we not had an answer to our application for the Doctor Peter centre, but since the successful InSite court challenge, there haven’t been any other successful applications anywhere else in Canada.”

Daly says the evidence is clear lives have already been saved.

“Our job, I think, is to advise those in government –whichever party it might be– of the evidence that shows the benefit of supervised injection services. It does save lives. It does not encourage people to use drugs. It really is about trying to keep some of our most vulnerable patients alive and healthy while we can try and help them.”

Daly says she can’t speculate on whether Health Canada’s delayed approval is politically-motivated… because this is an election year.

“Other public health officials across Canada would like to be able to offer these services. They know it would likely save lives.”

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BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS

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Frustration grows over the delayed approval of a second supervised injection site in Vancouver

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