Insite, the supervised injection site on Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, provides an indoor space where addicts can bring illegal drugs bought on the street and inject them under medical supervision. (CBC)

Canada's top court has announced it will hear the federal government's appeal in relation to Vancouver's supervised drug-injection site.

Earlier this year, the B.C. Court of Appeal dismissed an attempt by the federal government to shut down Insite, the provincially funded facility on the city's troubled Downtown Eastside, and ruled the injection site has a constitutional right to exist.

The case has raised important questions about the division of powers between Ottawa and the provinces, Justice Minister Rob Nicholson said in January.

The federal government is appealing the B.C. Court of Appeal ruling on the basis that there was one dissenting opinion.

The facility provides a space for illegal drug users to inject their drugs under the supervision of medical staff, but it does not provide drugs to addicts.