As Ottawa city council works through ways through the budget for 2007, the issue of spending money on free “crack pipe kits” has come up again. And, as expected, the Ottawa medical officer of health, David Salisbury, is defending the program.
However, the police chief is standing by his statements too.
Police Chief Vince Bevan has said that he opposes the program because it promotes illegal drug use.
“The chief’s position is clear on this,” said spokeswoman Isabelle Lemieux.
Am I wrong in assuming that a program designed to minimize the spread of HIV and Hep C should be left to the provincial government? I always thought health care was provincial jurisdiction.
In fact, last fall during the election run, I called in to a radio show hosting the candidates for Cumberland ward (not my ward) and asked how the candidates would vote if the idea of safe injection clinics was brought up. Rob Jellett, the incumbent, was the only one who stated clearly that this fell under provincial jurisdiction. Since safe injection clinics give free needles and are there to help prevent the spread of diseases, one would conclude the free crack pipe kit program is in the same boat.
I think we need more of city council to read Charles Darwin’s Origin of Species.
ADDENDUM
From CFRA:
Ottawa Police are responding to the scolding they received from the city’s Medical Officer of Health.
A frustrated Dr. David Salisbury says the police service has done everything in its power to interfere with the needle exchange and crack pipe programs by confiscating the kits. However, Ottawa Police Superintendent Gilles Larochelle isn’t offering any apologies.
He says in a criminal investigation, police will seize drug paraphenalia(sic) no matter where it came from. He adds they sometimes take away the pipes for “safety reasons”.
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The problem is mission creep by the regional health units. they are very difficult to reign in since they are a shared expense betwee multiple levels of government. the CMOH should be an elected position at the very least
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I believe the Muncipal Act in Ontario gives Municipalities concurrent jurisdiction over local public health issues.
I am all for dispensing drugs for no money but there should be a cost–they should have to watch videos on the effects of drugs as the “fee” for the service.
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I think its a tremendous waste of money to give out crack pipes(and needles). Not to mention the effects are questionable at best, catastrophic at worst.
I propose a keg-tap, bottle opener, corkscrew and frosty mug give-away.
Feed MY habbits!
And where’s my safe drinking site? Government funded frosty-cold beer… Maybe Vancouver will bite on that one 😉
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God help you if you live in a neighbourhood where a safe injection site opens. B&E’s skyrocket, car theft takes off and random vandalism blossoms, not to mention the delightful sight of the walking dead in droves in the areas. A brilliant idea not doubt.
Pat
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Crack pipe programs are a good thing in Ottawa. They do not only give out crack pipes, nurses educate these people. They can get support, information and the encouragement they need to get better.
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the canadian way… taxing law-abiding citizens to help losers break laws safely(!)…uh, do wife-beaters get free boxing gloves too?