Share this Story : National Post Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr

Derek Finkle: Health Canada ignored police, parents and provinces to renew injection sites

Police warnings, community outrage after a fatal shooting, and provincial pushback were all ignored as Health Canada renewed the exemptions

You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.

Federal health minister Marjorie Michel was on the hot seat in February when the Conservatives’ senior member on the parliamentary health committee, Dan Mazier, grilled her about injection sites.

Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.

Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.

Unlimited online access to National Post.

National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.

Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.

Support local journalism.

Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.

Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.

Unlimited online access to National Post.

National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.

Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.

Support local journalism.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one account.

Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.

Enjoy additional articles per month.

Get email updates from your favourite authors.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one account

Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments

Enjoy additional articles per month

Get email updates from your favourite authors

Sign In or Create an Account

Mazier wanted to know why the minister and her department, Health Canada, had renewed the federal drug law exemption, which injection sites require to operate, for an Ottawa site last year, when not only community associations but the city’s chief of police, Eric Stubbs, had submitted letters strenuously opposing that outcome.

Derek Finkle: Health Canada ignored police, parents and provinces to renew injection sites Back to video

Mazier read an excerpt from Stubbs’ letter, reported on in a column of mine at the time, in which the police chief said his force was “especially troubled by the unintended but serious consequences, such as the closure of nearby childcare facilities due to safety concerns, a situation that is without precedence in our city.” He wanted to know if the minister was aware that a daycare had closed because of the injection site.

This newsletter from NP Comment tackles the topics you care about. (Subscriber-exclusive edition on Fridays)

There was an error, please provide a valid email address.

By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.

A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.

The next issue of Platformed will soon be in your inbox.

We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again

Interested in more newsletters? Browse here.

Michel was decidedly uninterested in answering this question. So, Mazier pressed on, wanting to know why the........

© National Post