I've been sitting here trying to think of something positive to say about the government's decision to appeal BC's Insite judgement to the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC).  The best I can come up with is that the SCC will at least give us a ruling that binds all governments in the country … a last word, one would hope.  Too bad, though, that the Justice Minister hasn't read (or, if he did read it, is ignoring) the World Health Organization's 2008 report.

In his preface to the World Drug Report, Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, gives this sage advice:

Progress is needed in three areas. First, public health – the first principle of drug control – should be brought back to centre stage. Currently, the amount of resources and political support for public security and law enforcement far outweigh those devoted to public health. This must be re-balanced. Drug dependence is an illness that should be treated like any other. More resources are needed to prevent people from taking drugs, to treat those who are dependent, and to reduce the adverse health and social consequences of drug abuse.

This is just too depressing for words. Gabor Mate, the wonderful physician who runs Insite was on Amy Goodman's Democracy Now! network a few days ago. I will try to post the video to my blog tomorrow .

Given their reprehensible record on so many issues, this government has to go. The survive only by pandering to fear and prejudice. And in doing so they demean all Canadians.

Ideology before scientific evidence -- this should be the tag line for the Harper government (after all, they had to ditch the 'Canada's new government' line and I've not seen a new motto emerge yet so they need one).

Partisan politics ahead of Canadian well-being would also work. 

Bast, you speak truth. 

I can already read the headlines if the Supreme Court ruling doesn't go in Harper's favour: "Harper calls for an elected Judiciary; claims 'activist judges' go against democratically elected House". 

Wait a minute, an elected Senate, an elected judiciary?  Hmmmm, this sounds a lot like another country I  know.  How about we solve the problem for Steve and just send him packing South.  He'd clearly be happier there. 

This government operates like a rabid dog with a bone on issues it loses. Separation of the legislative and judicial branches, please!!! Can someone remind them of this? Who are they going to appeal to if the SCC upholds InSite? WHO? The UN? NAFTA??

On a more uplifting note, great article on you in Macleans this week too, BTW, Senator.