STOP PANDERING TO PANHANDLERS, O'BRIEN SAYS

If You Give Them Money, You'Re Contributing To Their Drug Use, Mayoral
Candidate Believes

If elected, Larry O'Brien would start a public information campaign
urging people to stop giving money to panhandlers.

The idea was one of several to emerge from the mayoral campaign
yesterday as the three leading candidates focused on the issues of
crime and recreation.

Mayor Bob Chiarelli announced that if re-elected, he would create a
community fund to help underprivileged children pay for sports equipment.

Alex Munter, meanwhile, went on the offensive. The former city
councillor said the crime and safety platforms of both of his
opponents fall short of the mark because they don't focus enough on
the causes of crime.

All three candidates are vowing to put more officers on the street,
which the city already plans to do. Mr. O'Brien would cancel a program
that sees the city hand out clean crack pipes. The others would keep
it.

Mr. O'Brien toured the Byward Market with two Ottawa police officers,
getting a first-hand look at the city's drug situation. He announced
that if elected, he would create an award program for people working
to reduce crime in their neighbourhoods.

He said the officers showed him how drug pushers are targeting many
panhandlers in the market area and getting them hooked on crack and
crystal meth.

"It was an eye-opening experience, to see the clear relationship
between panhandling and the drug trade," he said.

He said people giving money to panhandlers are often unwittingly
contribution to drug use.

If elected, he said, he would start a public information campaign to
tell people they aren't doing panhandlers any favours by giving them
money.

"We are killing them with kindness," he said.

Mr. O'Brien said his experience in the market yesterday also shows the
crack pipe program, aimed at reducing the spread of HIV and other
diseases, needs to be stopped.

While touring Murray Street, the officers and Mr. O'Brien found a man
who had just finished smoking crack. When the officers asked to see
the man's pipe, he pulled out a city-issued model.

"I'm against the crack pipe program more today than when I started
this campaign," Mr. O'Brien said.

He also said that if elected, he would give awards to groups and
individuals "that develop new ideas, or make a difference in reducing
crime in their communities."

Mr. Munter said Mr. O'Brien's plans don't address youth crime or
domestic violence.

"Enforcement is important, and we need more officers out of cars and
walking the streets," he said, "but we also need to do a better job on
crime prevention."

Mr. Munter said that within 100 days of taking office, he would have a
"summit" on domestic violence, and that he would reduce recreation
fees for children and youth by 10 per cent because participation in
sports and recreation programs helps keep youths away from crime.

Like Mr. Munter, Mr. Chiarelli said he would get the police to assess
the safety of neighbourhoods and suggest changes, but instead of
reducing city fees for recreation, the incumbent proposed the
community fund to help get needy children involved in recreation and
sports.

No municipal money would be contributed to the fund. Instead, Mr.
Chiarelli said he would lead a fundraising drive with the goal of
amassing $1 million.

He said the city already sets aside $800,000 per year to help people
of modest means pay for recreation and sports fees, but that these
families also need help paying for equipment and other related expenses.

Mr. Chiarelli said he thinks he can raise the $1 million over four
years, through individual and corporate donations. It could be
administered through Child and Youth Friendly Ottawa.

"We need to redouble our efforts to get children active and
participate in sports and recreation," he said.

"I played a lot of sports as a child, and I firmly believe in the
positive influence that these activities bring to children.

"I think the city can be a catalyst for making this happen."