MP WANTS MONEY TO BATTLE DRUGS

NEW WATERFORD - This community's drug problem is not unique, according
to Sydney-Victoria MP Mark Eyking.

"There is a drug problem not only in New Waterford, but also on the
Northside and in different pockets all over Cape Breton," he said.

"No area is immune to it."

Eyking was responding to a meeting of the Community Partnership on
Drug Abuse held in New Waterford, Monday evening. During that session,
committee member and Cape Breton Regional Police Chief Edgar MacLeod
commented on the community's drug problem.

The partnership was formed in 2004 to address drug abuse in the Cape
Breton Regional Municipality.

The MP is concerned the drug problem is only being dealt with as a
crime issue. He wants to see more resources used to prevent drug abuse
and to help people battling drug problems.

"This is what we will be pushing when (Parliament) resumes. Yes, there
is money going to penalize people that are in the drug system, but
that is not going to cure the problem of people using. I am not saying
this is not something we shouldn't be doing, but you also have to get
right to the source of why people are taking them and how to deal with
them once they start taking them."

The MP has also spoken to the RCMP regarding the issue.

Eyking sent a letter in November to Minister of Public Safety
Stockwell Day asking for more resources for policing.

"I want to ensure Cape Breton is getting its fair share of federal
resources and that proper staffing levels are in place to give the
residents throughout the CBRM and Cape Breton, effective and efficient
policing to deal with drug crime and the other variety of crimes
linked to the drug trade."