Evidence of meeting #36 for Public Safety and National Security in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was insite.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
John Carmichael Conservative Don Valley West, ON
No, I hear you on the medical side. From a consultative process, though, should the families, the people, the community that will be inheriting this new facility, have the opportunity to accept or reject it based on criteria?
Prior Plaintiff, As an Individual
I think that's a tough question to ask me, sir. If those people are ignorant about the facts and the way that drug addicts are demonized within the media, such as David Berner's programs on television every week, then we don't have a chance, sir. We wouldn't have a chance, because we're demonized in the media and we don't have recourse for that. Most people in those communities think we're a bunch of horrible people who only want to rob them and everything else.
If that's the community you're talking about, then I say no. Unless they're educated—
Conservative
John Carmichael Conservative Don Valley West, ON
I'm talking about the community in general. Everybody has to have input. If you're going to come into my city or into somebody else's city and establish this—
Conservative
Conservative
John Carmichael Conservative Don Valley West, ON
Somebody has to adjudicate that and say yea or nay based on that.
Prior Plaintiff, As an Individual
Okay, but yes, the community should have a say. Yes, sir.
Conservative
John Carmichael Conservative Don Valley West, ON
Okay. With that, Mr. Berner, last week we heard testimony about the area around Insite specifically, which goes out several blocks. They talked about—to your comment—inappropriately discarded drug litter. We heard comments about attracting a drug trade down into the area that's basically centred within blocks of the Insite facility.
From your perspective, when we start talking about the criteria involved in establishing one of these sites or we say that the minister has to make a decision, in your view, are the requirements for the criteria of the information to be put forward to the Minister of Health too onerous, or do they strike a balance to ensure the community has been adequately consulted? I'm thinking of testimony we've heard previously, which I would think you might have read. Maybe you could comment on that, sir.
Executive Director, Drug Prevention Network of Canada
I don't think they're too onerous. I think there are a couple of minor details that could use some massaging, such as, if someone's going to work at a facility, we have to know that they have been clear of any police activity for 10 years. I think that's too onerous, because often the best people working with addicts are recovering and recovered addicts who have been clean and sober for three months, six months, or.... I once hired a guy from California, and I had to get special permission from the then Conservative government to bring him into Canada.
No, I don't think they're too onerous, but let me say something about my testimony. People are sitting here and saying that I demonize addicts, but (a) I created the first treatment centre in Canada in 1967, and (b) I work with addicts every week. I have people in my arms weeping, working on their trauma. I don't demonize addicts. I have helped thousands of addicts get clean and sober. It's very easy for the Libby Davies and the Dean Wilsons of the world to sit there and say, “Oh yeah, he's just a guy who demonizes addicts.” That's dreadful.
Conservative
John Carmichael Conservative Don Valley West, ON
Mr. Berner, I have limited time here, and I don't want to create a confrontation beyond what we already have.
From your perspective, when you look at the 27 criteria, do you think the criteria we've been given adequately react to the Supreme Court ruling of criteria that must be considered?
Executive Director, Drug Prevention Network of Canada
Yes, I do. Yes, I've read through it thoroughly. I think it's quite reasonable.
Executive Director, Drug Prevention Network of Canada
You're asking for—
Okay?
Conservative
John Carmichael Conservative Don Valley West, ON
Yes, I just.... We have limited time.
What time do I have have left, Mr. Chair?
Conservative
Conservative
John Carmichael Conservative Don Valley West, ON
Mr. Thompson, I'll go to you for a minute and a half.
If a community were to uniformly reject a proposal to establish a supervised injection site, how would you propose that the minister react to that and go forward?
District 1 Commander, Operations Division, Vancouver City Police Department
As I commented earlier, I think at some levels it really hinges on local government support. Insite would not have happened had it not been for the support of city council and the mayor, both the previous administration and then Mayor Campbell's administration.
Really, at some levels, if the community rejects it and the local political support is not there for a facility, then yes, it would be a very tough road to take around bringing in a site, because you really do need.... What happened in Vancouver was that you had the citizens of Vancouver in many ways accepting that this was something that should be tried. Again, you would have to always look at that local support.
Conservative
John Carmichael Conservative Don Valley West, ON
I have a last question, then, for Mr. Thompson.
From your perspective and in your opinion, do the criteria we've been provided, the 27 points of criteria, adequately react to the Supreme Court ruling of criteria that must be considered?
District 1 Commander, Operations Division, Vancouver City Police Department
In my opinion, my only concern is, has the bar been raised too high? Those are clearly criteria that are important, but has the bar been raised so high that it would be very difficult to bring in any sort of facility?
Again, much of our focus in the VPD in these last few years has also been on looking at mental health and facilities and so on, such as supported housing. There has to be a consultative process around that, but ultimately, at some levels, if there is an ongoing medical public health issue, sometimes tough decisions need to be made, both around that constituency and also the people nearby. Part of our role from a policing standpoint is to assist and to work together with that to deal with the public safety concerns that may arise out of such a facility being opened in any given location. Again, my—
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Daryl Kramp
Thank you very much, Mr. Thompson. Thank you, Mr. Carmichael.
We will now go to Ms. Fry, please.
Liberal
Hedy Fry Liberal Vancouver Centre, BC
Dean, you did a great job. I want to congratulate you on the work you have been doing to bring this to the fore and to make sure that everyone who sees you knows it's possible for someone to benefit from a safe injection site.
Prior Plaintiff, As an Individual
It is possible. You remember me from 15 years ago.
Prior Plaintiff, As an Individual
Anybody who saw me then and who sees me now....