DRUG STRATEGY TAKES AIM AT 'SERIOUS' CRIME

Mandatory Prison Sentences Key to Ottawa's $64-Million Crackdown

WINNIPEG -- The federal government will introduce legislation this
fall setting out mandatory minimum prison sentences for people
convicted of "serious" drug crimes, Prime Minister Stephen Harper
said yesterday.

"Currently, there are no minimum prison sentences for producing and
trafficking dangerous drugs like methamphetamines and cocaine,"
Harper told a news conference.

"But these are serious crimes; those who commit them should do serious time."

The $63.8-million national anti-drug strategy also promises more
resources for identifying and closing down marijuana-growing
operations, although Harper would not say whether marijuana growers
would face tougher sentences.

About $22 million of the funding would go toward enforcement, while
about $32 million would be directed to treatment and $10 million for
prevention in the form of an awareness campaign. The money would be
spent over two years.

Graham Taylor, executive director of the James Bay Health Centre and
Victoria Youth Clinics, welcomed the money for prevention initiatives.

"Prevention programs are the starting point in dealing with drug
issues," Taylor said.

It's tough to statistically prove prevention works and they are often
the first programs to be cut in government belt tightening, Taylor said.

"Good strong directed educational programs in prevention are so
important," Taylor said. Before treatment is necessary, educating
youth of the harmful ramifications of the drugs "they may experiment
with" might stop them from ever starting, he said.

Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan called the announcement a good start.
Noting that enforcement has been well-funded for many years, he said
treatment and prevention will require "a much larger investment."

Sullivan has been lobbying the federal government for a
"disproportionate" share of the money earmarked for treatment
programs to come to B.C.

"Not only does Vancouver have a large and serious drug problem, but
the 2010 Olympic Games are coming and we will be on the world stage,"
Sullivan said in an interview.

Harper promised to be compassionate toward people hooked on illegal
drugs, while expressing skepticism about Vancouver's controversial
supervised-injection site -- not a good sign for those hoping to see
a similar project in Victoria.

In particular, the prime minister said he is concerned about rising
drug use among youth. He also noted that drug use takes an expensive
toll on the health care system and fuels crime.

Harper said the government's response will be two-pronged, focusing
on drug addicts on one hand and on drug producers and dealers on the other.

"Drugs are dangerous and destructive. If drugs do get hold of you,
there will be help to get you off them," Harper promised. "But if you
sell or produce drugs, you will pay with prison time."

"Our two-track approach will be tough on the dealers and producers of
drugs and compassionate for their victims."

Tim Stockwell, director of the University of Victoria-based Centre
for Addictions Research of B.C., criticized the plan for failing to
support harm-reduction strategies.

"Harm-reduction strategies such as needle exchanges and safe
injection sites have been proven to reduce the spread of hepatitis C
and HIV among injecting drug users," Stockwell said.

Those strategies save health and law enforcement dollars, improve the
health of drug users and encourage them to seek treatment, he said.