SHELTERS ASK COURT TO BAR DEALERS

For Now, Police Will Keep Those Facing Drug Charges Off Premises

Three downtown Ottawa homeless shelters are asking the courts to
prevent those charged with dealing drugs on their premises from
coming within 500 metres until their charges are dealt with.

A formal letter submitted to police was signed by Shepherds of Good
Hope, The Ottawa Mission and the Salvation Army.

Police say they will temporarily impose the condition, but also
submit the letter as a victim impact statement for the courts to
consider at trial.

"The request to the Crown is that when people are charged with drug
trafficking that they not be sent back to the shelters," said Diane
Morrison, executive director of The Ottawa Mission. Ms. Morrison said
that those charged with drug-related offences are sometimes ordered
to live at one of the shelters as a condition of their release.

"They've got to find a place to send them," said Ms. Morrison, adding
that the city needs more drug treatment facilities.

Paul Soucie, executive director of the Shepherds of Good Hope,
explained that the drug dealers prey on the vulnerable and that their
presence makes it unsafe for his clients, employees and volunteers.

"What's happening is they are making offers to people in desperate
situations," said Mr. Soucie.

"Imagine this," said Mr. Soucie. "You live in a shelter, so life
isn't all that great, and you get up in the morning at 8:30 to be on
the street all day.

"You do this for 365 days a year ... and you live in misery," he
explained. "The next thing you know, you have someone sweeping in
offering an opportunity to get away from your misery for a while."

The Murray Street shelter serves about 700,000 meals a year to those in need.

"We're trying to have a safe and clean environment in the midst of
this problem that we're seeing," he said.

On Saturday, police began Project Street Sweep, a project of the
newly formed 10-member street-crime unit to attack crimes like drug
dealing and prostitution. Though police have made 33 arrests since
Saturday, all but three of those arrested have been released until
their trials begin in January.

Those who were arrested and charged with drug trafficking near the
shelters were released by police on the condition that they not
return, said Insp. Alain Bernard, who oversees the street crime unit.

"It is an unfortunate step, but it is a necessary step," said
Rideau-Vanier Councillor Georges Bedard. "Our objective here is to
send out the signal that people have to stop preying on the poor and
those people with mental disabilities."

Human rights lawyer Lawrence Greenspon said this kind of condition
should be judged on a case-by-case basis that considers the accused's
background and criminal history.

"It would not be a wise policy any time a person is charged with
trafficking on that premises that an automatic condition of their
release be that they have to agree not to go to any of the shelters,"
said Mr. Greenspon. "Because that condition can become, in effect, a
sentence of homelessness."

Insp. Bernard said that those arrested for drug trafficking will be
asked to find a residence that is not one of the three shelters. If
they have nowhere else to go and are identified as having a drug
problem, they will be asked to enter a treatment program.

If they refuse help, they could face further incarceration, he said.

"If they choose not to get help ... we can't simply say they're going
to be allowed to continue preying on individuals," said Insp. Bernard.

"We can't lose sight that these organizations are totally committed
to helping the homeless," said Insp. Bernard of the three shelters.
"Part of that is making tough decisions."