COUNCIL ASKED TO BACK STAND AGAINST WELFARE DRUG TESTING

Mandatory drug testing has no place in the welfare lines of Ontario,
a city council committee has decided.

Council will be asked to back that stand at its meeting tonight, with
letters from a handful of local agencies denouncing the province's
plan to test welfare recipients.

"It's an unfair way of targeting people," said Coun. Harold Usher, a
member of the community and protective services committee that made
the recommendation.

"I don't want my tax dollars going to a drug habit. But it would be
much better if this was done on a voluntary basis."

It seems unlikely London's opposition will do much good. The province
remains committed to the testing, Tory MPP Bob Wood (London West)
said yesterday.

"We are offering help to these people," he said. "People not on
social assistance have to figure it out for themselves."

The Ontario government unveiled a proposal in November that would
force drug testing on welfare recipients. Anyone who refuses
treatment would be ineligible for social assistance.

The proposal has drawn fire from lawyers, who claim it violates the
province's human rights code and will not stand up in court, and from
social service agencies.

The city's community and protective services committee resolution
lists eight reasons for opposing mandatory drug testing, including it
stigmatizes welfare recipients, won't do much to help drug abusers
and will only cause more problems for those kicked off welfare.

The committee wants the province to ensure voluntary drug programs
are available to welfare recipients, with child care and
transportation help provided.

The agencies that deal with drug abusers are opposed to mandatory
testing because it doesn't work, Usher said. "They have a good handle
on these people."

The Sisters of St. Joseph of London, the London Interfaith
Counselling Centre and Bethany Centre have voiced their opposition to
the proposal.

Wood countered people have misconceptions about the plan. Drug
abusers will not be kicked off welfare because they use drugs, only
because they refuse treatment, he said.

"What we're asking them to do is give it a try. Those who fail do not
get kicked off welfare."

The province has added other conditions of receiving welfare without
running into legal problems, Wood said.