GROW OPS TARGETED

Crime - The Conservative government will spend $286 million for nine
new law and order initiatives, including a revamped national drug
strategy, interviewing first-time applicants for new gun licences,
and expanding treatment programs for mentally ill prisoners.

A key item is a long-promised national anti-drug strategy to crack
down on gangs and illegal marijuana grow operations and to treat
addictions. The government said it will spend $64 million in new
money on the strategy over two years as well as refocus $385 million
from the drug strategy budget.

The government reiterated its intention to introduce minimum
mandatory prison terms for serious crimes involving drugs.

Money spent on harm reduction, including supervised injection sites
and needle-exchange programs, will be eliminated from the program.