Insite on trial

On May 12th, Canada's supreme court heard eloquent arguments supporting Insite.  With so much support from the community, experts in addiction and criminology, and addicts, how can the federal government continue criminalizing people in need of medical care? 

http://www.suite101.com/content/prohibition-or-harm-reduction--the-supreme-court-will-decide-a371404

The dilemma for the feds, of course, it that to allow Insite to continue, and to stop putting sick people in jail would mean gutting their precious crime bill.  They will push this bill through parliament, and then sometime over the next year, the supreme court judges, who do not need to cater to voters, will rule on the side of harm reduction.  I predict this will be their decision, because that would be a rational decision based on research that has shown harm reduction is effective, and the war on drugs is a failure.  The B.C. court of appeal ruled on the side of Insite.

Harper does not have the background or expertise to make medical decisions, and his former Health Minster, Tony Clement considers helping addicts immoral.  I don't suppose he extends this bias to smokers, who partake, legally, in the drug that kills more people than all the illegal drugs combined.  Would he restrict treatment for lung disease to smokers....diabetes treatment for alcoholics?  The man's ignorance is astounding, but these are the folks Harper relies on for advice. 

40% of Canadian voters voted for these guys, and they got a majority.  They embarass on the world stage, with right-wing uninformed decisions that hurt people and their environment.

While the parliamentary page who dared to hold up the "STOP Harper" sign was fired, hopefully she won't be the last young person to have the courage to stand up for their convictions, but will inspire others to speak out against policies that hurt Canadians.  Some have criticized her as a pampered young Canadian who doesn't understand what oppression is.  She was speaking as someone who understands that she has the right to make her views known to those in power, and has the courage to do so, putting her job on the line for her beliefs. 
Simon Fraser University continues to promote progressive policies, and we can only hope that their access to government grants for research won't be cut off. 

For up to date news on this and other legal issues affecting Canadians, check out PIVOT Legal Society's newsletter  http://www.pivotlegal.org/pivot-points/blog/join-us-for-health-harm-reduction-and-the-law