Pubdate: Wed, 17 Feb 2010
Source: Maple Ridge News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2010 Maple Ridge News
Contact:  http://www.mapleridgenews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1328
Author: D. Rodney Smelser

INSITE DEVELOPMENT UNFORTUNATE, TROUBLESOME

Editor, The News:

I recently heard the frustrating and worrisome news that the Tory
federal government will appeal the B.C. Court of Appeal decision in
the Insite case to the Supreme Court of Canada.

For whatever reason, I had the impression that Justice Minister Rob
Nicholson was one of Prime Minister Stephen J. Harper's more pragmatic
ministers, less inclined to pursue this issue than was former health
minister Tony Clement, a wild-eyed ideologue if ever there was one.

So this is a very unfortunate and extremely troubling
development.

Furthermore, given the Conservative government's adamantine refusal to
budge even after the Supreme Court had ruled that Omar Khadr's rights
had been violated, one wonders how they would respond to a defeat at
Supreme Court in this matter?

Wouldn't they just pass a new federal statute specifically declaring
any facility like this a criminal activity, using their newly
appointed Senate majority?

All three opposition parties should issue clear statements condemning
this decision, using similar language to drive home the point that
they are united on this matter.

They should demand a complete accounting of all the federal
governments legal costs, both those spent to this point and those
projected, and they should request similar information from the
Vancouver-Coastal Health Authority and the Government of British Columbia.

Lawyers for both the Portland Hotel Society and the Department of
Justice should be subpoenaed to appear in front of the Commons
Standing Committees on Health and Justice and Human Rights to explain
their arguments.

I recall asking our local Conservative MP Randy Kamp at an all
candidate's meeting during the 2005/06 federal, general election if it
was true that his party's drug policies were inspired by John P.
Walters, the director of the White House Office of National Drug
Control Policy under President George W. Bush.

Kamp flatly denied it, and asked skeptically why anyone might think
that.

Well, I guess in the next election, I can ask my question
again.

D. Rodney Smelser

Maple Ridge 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D