VANCOUVER - Canada's federal health minister says he is very disappointed with a B.C. Supreme Court judgment that struck down laws prohibiting possession and trafficking of drugs when it comes to safe injection sites, effectively granting a one-year reprieve for Vancouver's controversial injection facility.
The B.C. court ruled that the constitutional right of drug addicts to life, liberty and security trumps the criminal code prohibition against possession and consumption of illicit drugs at such a site.
In his ruling, Justice Ian Pitfield gave Ottawa until the end of June 2009 to amend the law, meaning the safe injection site will remain open at least until then.
But Health Minister Tony Clement says the Conservative government believes the best way to deal with the health issues of drug addicts is to offer treatment and to prevent them from getting on to drugs in the first place.
He also strongly suggested that the federal government is opposed to the continued operation of Insite.
Clement says it is not up to him to decide whether the ruling will be appealed but he says the justice minister is reviewing the matter.
