Canadian Police Association

 

Association canadienne des policiers

Bureau/Suite 100

141, rue Catherine Street

Ottawa, Ontario  K2P 1C3

Tel:  (613) 231-4168  Fax:  (613) 231-3254

http:/www.cpa-acp.ca

NEWS RELEASE

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CANADIAN POLICE ASSOCIATION URGES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO CEASE FINANCING THE SUPERVISED INJECTION SITE PROGRAM

VICTORIA, BC – The Canadian Police Association (CPA) Board of Directors with the support of its members have adopted a resolution asking the Federal Government to “cease all financing of the supervised injection site program and invest in a National Drug Strategy to combat drug addiction which includes education, prevention and treatment”. 

Delegates (approximately 200 police associations representing 54,000 CPA members) at the CPA Annual General Meeting are unanimous in supporting their board and delivering the message that this program is not helping to reduce the use of drugs and that the focus should remain on treatment.  The following is the resolution that was unanimously adopted by the CPA Board of Directors on August 30, 2006 and was supported by the delegates at the CPA Annual General Meeting on September 1, 2006:

That the CPA Board of Directors urge the government to cease all financing of the supervised injection site program and invest in a national drug strategy to combat drug addiction which includes education, prevention and treatment.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

“In an effort to promote a National Drug Strategy that aims to reduce the amount of drug use, and consequently the amount of crime, in , we strongly believe that the financing of the “supervised injection site program” should cease and that more attention should be brought to education, prevention and treatment”, said CPA President Tony Cannavino.  “Continuing with the financing of this program is in direct conflict with the objectives and spirit of a National Drug Strategy and is, in fact, counter productive”, he added.

The Canadian Police Association (CPA) has been advocating for a National Drug Strategy that incorporates a balanced approach to reduce the adverse effects associated with drug use by limiting both the supply of and demand for illicit drugs, enabling an integrated approach to education, prevention, and treatment.

In Vancouver, drug overdose deaths have increased even though rates have decreased elsewhere in British Columbia (According to a BC Coroner`s Report).  Police officers and citizens are seeing a rise in drug related activities around the supervised injection sites, other than those that use the facility.  They are also worried about the mixed message it is sending the children and youth in our society about using drugs.

“What I am hearing both from our members and from citizens in Vancouver is that this type of program is delivering the wrong message to our children and youth on drug use.  It trivializes the use of illicit drugs and that the focus should be on treating the people who need help, not encouraging them to keep using drugs”, said CPA Vice President Tom Stamatakis .  “The supervised injection site program has had no impact on reducing public disorder and has, in fact, created a safe haven for traffickers and fosters a sense of entitlement among drug users”, he added.

As front-line professionals who see first-hand the impact of drugs in our society, CPA members share a goal of encouraging all Canadians, particularly children and our youth, to stay drug free.

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For more information, please contact: Pierre Collin, Communications Officer

Tel.:  (613) 231-4168 / Cell:  (613) 299-6516

Email: [email protected]