Article content

One of the problems with being politically conservative in the most basic sense of the word — genetically suspicious of change — is that you can wind up looking lost and silly and backward when mainstream opinion on any given topic slingshots past you, as it often does in Canada. It only took about five years for opposition to same-sex marriage to go from a mainstream Liberal position to fodder for Liberal attack ads. About 15 minutes after the assisted dying law took effect, the news was full of people complaining children and people living in remote rural areas might be denied access.

We may now be at that point with safe-injections sites.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Chris Selley: Suddenly, safe-injection sites are mainstream politics Back to video

In Vancouver, Insite has been chugging along for 13 years, fending off court challenges and skeptics by … well, by saving the lives of 100 per cent of the hundreds of people who have overdosed on its premises. But the model hasn’t really spread, and not just because Ottawa has made it difficult. People like Ottawa mayor Jim Watson insist every penny spent on these facilities must go toward addiction treatment. People like Toronto city councillor Stephen Holyday argue governments shouldn’t provide a venue for illegal activity lest it sanction that activity.