"As far as I'm concerned, any organization that will be using that as a tool to give out to our kids — I will vote against giving any funding to them," Orléans Coun. Bob Monette told CBC News on Thursday.
Orléans Coun. Bob Monette says he will vote against providing city funding to any group that wants to continue handing out crack pipes to drug users.
(CBC)
"We made it very clear at council meeting that city council does not support handing out crack pipes."
The crack pipe program, started in 2005, provides free, clean, rubber-tipped glass tubes to crack users. It was intended to reduce the incidence of HIV and hepatitis spread through the sharing of homemade crack pipes.
The city-run program cost $30,000 a year, but Ottawa was only paying $7,500 annually, with the rest covered by the province. However, city council voted 15-7 on July 11 to cancel to the program.
After Monette's warning, community groups who are partners in the program — such as the Ottawa HIV/AIDS Coalition — said they are determined to keep handing out the pipes.