Harper, The Safe Injection Site is Provincial, Not Federal, So Hands Off

The safe injection site has always been under threat of closure since almost the day it opened, and yet somehow it is still providing today.

The site is an important part of a proactive approach this city has taken to drug abuse, instead of the 'wag your finger and throw them in jail' policy of well, forever. There is an exemption passed in 2003 that allows them to stay open, outside of Canada's drug laws, but unfortunately it is running out in June, and it looks like the Harper government isn't willing to extend.

There is a duel responsibility here, as the Federal Conservatives set national laws, like those that involve drugs, but the province sets policy on health care, which most would argue the Injection Site is. The Provincial Liberals have said they want to keep the site open, so it looks like this whole issue could be coming to a head in a few months.

I believe it is a Provincial, health care issue that needs to be helped along by Ottawa, not a violation of drug law that needs to stop at the expense of Health Care. I don't know if Stephen Harper has ever taken a walk on East Hastings, but taking away the protections for the Site will do nothing but make a horrible problem that much worse, forcing people back into alleyways, and back into sharing needles, and as a consequence, diseases.

Those diseases , the rest of the medical problems that stem from homelessness and the electoral repercussions of homeless policies then become the Province's responsibility, and aren't felt on the federal level at all.

If we have to deal with the consequences, then we get to choose how to deal with it.