MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 14, 2010

Media conference at courthouse on January 15 at 9:45am Vancouver, British Columbia - The B.C. Court of Appeal is giving its ruling on the Constitutional legality of Insite, a supervised injection
site in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside (DTES), on January 15, 2010 beginning at 9:30 a.m.

At 9:45 a.m. a media conference is being held on the steps of the Provincial Courthouse at Smithe and Hornby with advocates Liz Evans (PHS Community Services Society), Libby Davies (MP for Vancouver East), Jenny Kwan (MLA for Vancouver-Mount Pleasant) and Philip Owen (former Vancouver Mayor).

In a May 2008 ruling, by Justice Ian Pitfield of the B.C. Supreme Court, sections of the country's drug laws were struck down as unconstitutional, enabling Insite to keep its doors open. The ruling indicated that closing a health care service that can prevent death and the transmission of infectious disease goes against the right to life and security that are outlined in the Charter.

This ruling was appealed by the Federal Government of Canada.

WHEN:                  Friday, January 15, 2010

TIME:                    9:45 a.m.

WHERE:               Smithe and Hornby on the steps of the Provincial Courthouse

WHAT:                 B.C. Court of Appeal ruling on the Constitutional legality of Insite

About Insite

Insite is one of two supervised injection sites in North America and has been operating in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside since 2003. Operated under a partnership between PHS and the VCHA, Insite has substantially reduced the transmission of HIV and Hepatitis C, as well as the number of overdose deaths in the DTES. Insite is the most studied public health facility in North America, with over 40 peer-reviewed research papers that show Insite saves money and saves lives.

For more information about Insite and access to the many research studies on the program visit www.communityinsite.ca.

-30-