CITY FINDS $250,000 FOR DRUG COURT

A drug treatment court for addicts will continue operating for at
least one more year after city council approved spending $250,000 in
2008. The court, which has been running as a pilot project in the
Salvation Army Centre of Hope, allows judges to send drug addicts who
commit non-violent crimes for rehabilitative treatment instead of jail.

"It makes sense," said Mayor Dave Bronconnier, who, along with Ald.
Druh Farrell, brought forward the request during budget talks Monday.
"We are looking at people who have chronic dependencies on the street
that are costing the city -- the taxpayer -- in some cases $150,000
to $200,000 for one person."

Bronconnier said the drug court would take between 12 to 20 people
off the street in 2008 by helping them get into drug rehabilitation programs.

Council unanimously approved the spending.

Still, some aldermen raised concerns about the lack of funding from
other levels of government for the program, which is being run by the
city and several judges who are volunteering their time to keep it operating.

"There is no criticism of the program," said Ald. Ric McIver. "I just
worry about taking on things from the province that is their full
right and responsibility -- and that they darn well should be
funding, especially when it's so obvious . . . that it works."

Bronconnier acknowledged the court isn't a civic responsibility, but
he suggested it's an important program to keep going.

"It's cost-effective," he said. "We only hoped they would have fully
funded a drug court here in Calgary rather than one in the city to the north."

Unlike Edmonton, Regina, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver, Calgary
didn't receive federal money for a pilot project, but cobbled
together $100,000 last year to get it started in 2007.

The $250,000 for 2008 will be funded out of a rainy-day fund, so it
won't affect homeowners' taxes.