Harm-reduction advocates have long worried that the conservative government of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper would shut down Vancouver's safe-injection site for drug users, and a new report is unlikely to do much to assuage those fears.

The National Post reported May 7 that a new government report on the InSite program offered a mixed review, according to Health Minister Tony Clement, even though others had characterized the report's findings as favorable to InSite. Clement refused to say whether the government would keep the program open but reiterated his stance that prevention, treatment and enforcement -- and not harm reduction -- are the cornerstones of Canada's drug policy.

"Our harm reduction is accomplished through enforcement, our harm reduction is accomplished through prevention, our harm reduction is accomplished through treatment," said Clement. "The best way to reduce harm is to get addicts off drugs and to provide the supports for that addict."

Past studies have shown that InSite has helped prevent overdose deaths and needle sharing and encourages addicts to seek treatment. The program operates under an exemption to Canada's Criminal Code that expires June 30.