POLICE GET CASH BOOST IN DRUG FIGHT

REGINA - The federal government is investing $8.9 million during the
next two years to help quash Canada's illicit drug trade.

Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day made the announcement Friday at
the RCMP F Division headquarters in Regina. The RCMP and its partners
will now have nearly $9 million in additional funding to help them
detect, investigate and take down criminal organizations involved in
the production and sale of illicit drugs.

"We are committed to safer streets and safer communities," said Day.
"First and foremost responsibility of any level of government is the
safety and security of its citizens."

Day said the new funding will target illicit drug producers such as
grow-ops, meth labs and other types of synthetic drugs.

"A small dealer is just someone who wants to become a bigger dealer,"
said Day. "When it comes to the production of certain types of drugs
we want to send a clear message that there is zero tolerance."

The government's National Anti-Drug Strategy takes a three-pronged
approach. It focuses on reducing the supply and demand of illegal
drugs as well as addressing the crime associated with illicit drugs.

"We have also wanted to make it clear that we're going to have a
strong message and strong action on the enforcement side and we've
changed some laws to adapt to that," explained Day.

Since October the government has made investments to strengthen
Canada's borders to prevent the drugs from coming into the country and
has brought forth legislation to introduce mandatory jail time for
people who produce and sell illegal drugs. In addition, the government
has invested $7 million in communities across Canada to address youth
drug use and $10 million during the next two years in a national
prevention campaign aimed at young people and their parents.

The new tough-on-crime strategy is a concern to some
organizations.

Alison Symington, senior policy analyst for the Canadian HIV-AIDS
Legal Network, said she is concerned with the government's plan to
implement mandatory minimum sentences.

"Mandatory minimum sentences have been shown to affect low-level,
street-level dealers, people who are distributing small amounts of
drugs to support their own addictions. They don't really get at the
kingpins or the big dealers who deal in large quantities," she said.

Symington said the strategy is a policy that is based on ideology, not
evidence. She said prevention and treatment is much more effective
than law enforcement.