Georgia Straight

Federal war on drugs failing in Vancouver: study

Jun 262013

Report finds harm-reduction strategies have been more effective than tougher policing.

from the Georgia Straight

"A new report on Vancouver’s drug problem highlights the success of harm-reduction strategies and related approaches while suggesting tougher policing has not been effective.

"The report, released today (June 24) by the Urban Health Initiative at the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, is based on illicit drug-use data collected over a 15-year period.

“'The objective of this report is to make data accessible to a wide variety of stakeholders and to directly inform the City of Vancouver’s Four Pillars Drug Strategy, the Province of British Columbia’s response to illicit drug use, and the Canadian federal government’s National Anti-Drug Strategy,' the report says.

"Among its findings, the study shows that while overall drug use remained steady from 1996 to 2011, injection drug use decreased over that period. …"

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New report outlines barriers faced by aboriginal people in Canada

Jun 182013

News blog

Canadian Human Rights Commission finds aboriginal adults have lower median income, higher unemployment.

from the Georgia Straight

"The Canadian Human Rights Commission has released a new report that indicates aboriginal people continue to face barriers to equality of opportunity.

"The report shows, among other findings, that aboriginal adults have lower median income than non-aboriginal adults, that they are more likely to experience unemployment, that they are more likely to live in housing in need of major repairs, and that they are more likely to experience physical, emotional or sexual abuse.

“'For decades, study after study has chronicled the social injustice faced by Aboriginal people, on and off reserve,' Acting Chief Commissioner David Langtry states in an introduction to the report.

“'This report adds to our understanding by providing an empirical reference point regarding the impacts of systemic discrimination on the equality rights of a group protected by Canadian human rights legislation and international conventions.' …"

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Natives underrepresented in BC election

May 032013

News blog

Only a few candidates are of aboriginal descent.

from the Georgia Straight

"More than 60 years after being granted the right to vote provincially, Natives are underrepresented in BC’s electoral life. It’s indicative of the prevalent cynicism about government, says Ron Peters, a Tsimshian running for MLA in Coquitlam–Burke Mountain.

“'There’s an almost endless list of reasons why a lot of aboriginal people are extremely mistrustful of government,' Peters told the Georgia Straight in a phone interview. 'And it’s a matter of whether you believe that there are constructive things that can be done from within government or whether you think the most effective route is simply to oppose government.'

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