MAYENCOURT: REHAB CENTRE TIME WELL SPENT

MLA's mission is to help addicts turn lives around

Vancouver-Burrard Liberal MLA Lorne Mayencourt says the time he's
spent developing a drug rehabilitation centre near Prince George is
not eating into his work as an elected representative.

Mayencourt said his office has not received any complaints from
constituents about his absence from the riding. Rather, he said, he
is receiving encouragement for his decision to open the Baldy Hughes
Therapeutic Community at a former military base 40 kilometres outside
of Prince George.

"We all need to understand that although I'm away in Prince George,
I'm trying to change the way the provincial government deals with the
mentally ill, the drug addicted and homelessness in the entire
province," he told the Courier from Victoria. "We're getting some
good results."

He noted six of the 16 clients are from Vancouver, including a young
couple that is about to have a baby. The couple had a drug addiction
but have been clean since arriving at the facility in December, he said.

Mayencourt said he spent 15 days in March in Prince George and will
spend another 10 days there at the end of the month. He opened the
facility in December with money he raised privately.

So far, he said, he's spent roughly $200,000 to operate and renovate
the facility. His goal is to have 100 clients staying at the
treatment centre by the end of the year. He estimated his budget for
the year will be $1.5 million.

A dormitory is being built and a curling rink and bowling alley are
being renovated. Recreation is a component of the abstinence-based
program which involves counselling and support groups.

The facility offers a Grade 12 equivalency program and trades courses
in such areas as woodworking to help clients acquire skills to get a
job. The facility is modelled after a rehabilitation centre in Italy,
where more than 20,000 addicts have gone through a similar program.

Mayencourt has criticized the city's supervised injection site,
saying the research hasn't proven addicts are getting off drugs.
Researchers of the site have said otherwise in numerous peer-reviewed
articles in medical journals.

Mayencourt believes his facility offers clients hope for a life
without addiction. But he said he wouldn't characterize his facility
as being the anti-injection site or a superior program to Mayor Sam
Sullivan's proposal to have medical doctors prescribe legal drugs to addicts.

"It's not anti-anything. It's just a different approach," he said.

Mayencourt decided last fall that he would not seek another term as
MLA. There has been widespread speculation that he will seek the
nomination to represent the Conservatives in the next federal election.

"I haven't really made up my mind whether I want to stay in public
life. What I'm doing now [with the rehabilitation centre] is a
passion. It's been the toughest work I've ever done--by a mile. It's
been a great experience."