METHADONE FOES KILL CLINIC

Protests against a methadone clinic in Whalley have
succeeded.

Last night the city of Surrey locked the doors on the clinic, which
had opened last week across from Grosvenor elementary school.

"That's great," cheered Bev Tuit, mother of two Grade 1 students. "I
can't believe they allowed her to open in the first place."

After kids found dirty needles left by addicts, Tuit organized a
meeting Monday.

Dr. Anna-Marie Maguire, the head doctor of the clinic, spoke to the
parents.

"She was determined that it wasn't a bad idea," said Tuit. "She said
that the kids would learn from it."

Physicians had been writing prescriptions for methadone and patients
were filling them at a nearby drugstore.

Parents were outraged.

But Maguire said she did everything by the book.

"We understood we had an interim business licence, but now they say
they aren't issuing one to us," said Maguire.

"We're in no position to continue to operate."

Licensing officials told her all she needed to do was to change the
address on the form.

That's absurd, said Mayor Doug McCallum.

"You just can't move it from one place to another," he said. "They're
operating illegally."

The city had been fining the clinic $100 a day before closing
it.

"Our whole intent was to close it," McCallum said.

Maguire plans to fight the decision with proof that she followed
city's directions exactly.

She and her staff were busy last night writing prescriptions and
handing out emergency phone numbers to patients.

"The patients will continue to get care," she said. "I'll do house
calls if I have to."

Checked-by: Rich O'Grady