DRUG TESTING SHOULD BE OPTION FOR PARENTS, SAYS MAYOR

A Way To Detect Crystal Meth

Anti-crystal-meth crusader and Maple Ridge Mayor Gord Robson says drug
testing should be a tool available to parents who feel their child is
spiralling out of control.

"I'd like to see testing for everyone who is arrested. I'd like to see
testing for everyone who dies. And, in a perfect world, I think a
parent should be able to work with the school district. If there is a
kid who is in trouble and in jeopardy of suspension, it should be an
option," Robson told The Province, noting he was speaking solely as
mayor and not on behalf of council.

"I don't think society should be able to impose it, but I think it
should be a tool that should be available to parents. A lot of kids
get hooked on this drug and they don't even know they are doing it."

Robson generated a storm of controversy recently with comments he made
to school trustees about the number of students he believes are
suspended each year due to meth involvement.

Earlier this month, he said that a student survey in the Surrey School
District showed that 12 per cent of Grade 8 kids have used crystal
meth.

"I would think that we're not much different in the Fraser Valley,"
Robson said. "We may be a little better than Surrey, but if half of
the kids are suspended because of crystal meth, that's five a week."

Trustees dismissed his claim, calling it "unsubstantiated" and
"irresponsible."

"We don't have hundreds of kids being suspended, we know that," said
trustee Dave Rempel.

But, Robson argued, unless the district conducts testing, the true
figure will never be known. He said parents in California have the
option of drug testing, which he said costs about $10, and so should
B.C. parents.

"I don't know if Canada is ready for that," conceded Robson, adding
mandatory testing could create a slew of legal issues and contradict
the Charter of Rights. "We do live in Canada and obviously there are
rules here that govern our society. But a test result could be an item
for discussion rather than proof in a courtroom.

"It recognizes a kid is sick and has got a problem. Once you know what
you are treating, it's easier to get positive results. It's a
devastating drug that can cause permanent brain injury."

Cheryl Ashlie, chair of the Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows school board,
also questioned Robson's figures and said drug testing is not on the
horizon.

"The board hasn't even entertained that, so we have no position on
that," Ashlie said. "They are in no way comments that have come to our
table or have been formally put to us by a parent group or by the
police department or any of our partners we work with.

"It is solely the mayor's opinion and we have not even entertained
that conversation at all."