Recently, we sent a questionnaire to the five major federal parties, asking their position on key questions related to HIV and human rights. Four out of five parties responded. Their responses are shared here, along with our comments.\u00a0See <\/i>www.aidslaw.ca\/election2015<\/strong><\/a> for more information.<\/i><\/p>\n October 13, 2015<\/p>\n Earlier this year, the federal government passed Bill C-2, the so-called Respect for Communities Act<\/i>, establishing excessive and unreasonable requirements for health authorities and community agencies who wish to open or continue operating supervised consumption services for people who use drugs, including directing the federal health minister to grant exceptions only in \u201cexceptional circumstances\u201d \u2014 in flagrant disregard for the Supreme Court of Canada\u2019s 2011 decision affirming the life-saving benefits of Insite, Vancouver\u2019s supervised injection site.<\/p>\n Supervised consumption services (SCS) are health services that provide a safe, hygienic environment where people can use pre-obtained drugs under the supervision of trained staff. SCS are part of a broader harm reduction approach to substance use and have numerous health and social benefits. Among other health benefits, SCS have proven to be effective in reducing deaths from overdose and decreasing the sharing of drug injection equipment, thus reducing the risk of spreading blood-borne infections such as HIV and hepatitis C among people who inject drugs.<\/p>\n Yet the clients and staff of such health services risk criminal prosecution for drug possession unless the premises receive an exemption from the federal health minister \u2014 now, thanks to Bill C-2, a complicated and onerous process that creates an unacceptable barrier to access. We asked major political parties whether they would repeal Bill C-2 and facilitate access to SCS in Canada. Here is what they said.<\/p>\n All four of the parties who responded indicated they support supervised consumption services as effective harm reduction tools.<\/p>\n The Conservative Party of Canada did not respond to the questionnaire.<\/p>\n For more information:<\/b><\/p>\n
\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n\n