NDP nationalists criticize Conservatives assimilating an Americanized approach to drug issue

Edited by Peter Tremblay

EDMONTON - As the federal Conservatives scramble to find evidence against Canada’s successful safe injection site, NDP drug policy reform critic Libby Davies expressed concern at a public forum that the government’s pending drug legislation is moving Canada closer to the unsuccessful, costly, and short-sighted U.S. style war on drugs.

“The Conservatives are playing political games with the health and safety of our communities,” said Davies, reacting to media reports that the Conservative Health Minister directed Health Canada officials to discredit evidence showing that Canada’s only safe injection site; InSite, is working.

InSite continues to stand up to every scrutiny and is being hailed as a success by leading experts and by Health Canada. “Instead of accepting the overwhelming evidence and moving toward a balanced drug strategy for Canada, the Conservatives are running in the other direction,” said Ms. Davies.

“Edmonton reaches out to thousands of drug users annually through needle distribution programs,” said Davies. “Despite successful harm reduction programs in municipalities across Canada including Toronto, Ottawa and Winnipeg, the recent federal budget removes harm reduction from Canada’s drug strategy and commits millions of new dollars for enforcement.”

Ms. Davies voiced her growing concerns that the government is “spending more and more on unsuccessful and expensive U.S. model justice initiatives while turning their backs on programs that are proven to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS and Hep C among needle users, and increase access to treatment by users.”

Ms. Davies met in Edmonton with several community groups and individuals who view harm reduction as an important pillar in Canada’s drug strategy.

“Criminalizing this public health problem with a heavy-handed U.S. style war on drugs only serves to create a culture of fear instead of addressing the root causes and problems of drug use in Canada,” said Ms. Davies.

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