MAYORAL CANDIDATE WANTS DRUG ASSETS CHANNELED TO LOCAL
TREATMENT PROGRAMS

NORTH VANCOUVER - North Vancouver district mayoral candidate Maureen
McKeon Holmes wants Ottawa to spend most of the money it collects
seizing the assets of drug dealers on local drug treatment programs.

The federal Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist
Financing Act tries to ensure a criminal doesn't keep the proceeds or
profits of crime, by authorizing the seizure of houses, cars and other
assets held by criminals.

Coun. McKeon Holmes says the federal government should divert 75 per
cent of the money it collects from those criminals back to the area
where the money was seized.

Her resolution, scheduled for debate at Monday's district council
meeting, says police forces across the country link rising crime rates
to substance abuse, but local prevention, treatment and harm reduction
programs are unfunded or underfunded.