For Immediate Release
August 6, 2008
Conservatives' contradiction of WHO harm prevention shows disregard for Canadians' health
OTTAWA - The Conservative government's refusal to support critical harm reduction strategies shows its callous disregard for the health of Canadians and is contrary to volumes of scientific evidence, Liberal MPs said today.
"The World Health Organisation (WHO) supports safe injection sites. The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) supports safe injection sites. Scientific study after scientific study supports safe injection sites. Provincial governments and local communities support safe injection sites. Yet this Conservative government opposes it," said Liberal Health Critic Robert Thibault.
Yesterday the Conservatives again refused to accept the clear science of harm reduction while at a WHO event that promoted safe injection sites as a "priority intervention" in the global battle to stop the HIV/AIDS crisis. The WHO included safe injection sites as part of a "how-to" manual for fighting the global HIV/AIDS epidemic.
"Since coming to power, the Conservative government has consistently ignored and denied the clear evidence about how effective safe injection sites are at reducing harm. Is the government now saying that the rest of the world should ignore the evidence too?" said Mr. Thibault.
"The Harper government is once again choosing ideology instead of science," said Liberal Public Health Critic Dr. Carolyn Bennett. "The WHO and public health practitioners have the science proving that harm reduction saves lives. Health Minister Tony Clement is embarrassing Canada on the world stage by his ideologically driven position. He opposes supervised injection sites yet says he supports needle exchange which makes no medical sense."
"After the SARS crisis, the Liberal government created the role of the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada so 'Canada's Doctor' could speak directly to Canadians without political interference," she said. "The Minister should take the doctors' advice and stop playing with peoples' lives."
Liberal MP Dr. Hedy Fry, who is an ardent supporter of Vancouver's InSite program, said safe injection sites can be the beginning of a pathway out of addiction.
"They help keep addicts from overdosing, contracting HIV/AIDS, and encourage users to get off drugs. Which parts of that does Mr. Harper oppose?" she said.
She added that the Conservative government's position is counterproductive to protecting the health of Canadians.
"Harm reduction programs like InSite don't just help addicts - they also help countless numbers of Canadians who are affected by loved ones suffering under the grip of substance abuse," she said.
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Contact:
Office of Dr. Hedy Fry
613-992-3213
604-666-0135
