CRACKING DOWN ON CRYSTAL METH

It's an indication of just how addictive and harmful crystal meth is that
when governments really start studying it, they invariably move up their
timetables.

Earlier this year, Saskatchewan NDP MLA Graham Addley, legislative
secretary to the premier charged with reviewing substance abuse prevention
and treatment, decided to move up the due date of his report to June from
the end of the year when his initial research convinced him of the need to
address the mushrooming problem of crystal meth as soon as possible.

The latest to admit the need for rapid action against crystal meth is the
federal government. In June, federal Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh said he
had asked senior officials for recommendations by the end of the year on
whether the government should introduce stiffer penalties for crystal meth
producers and distributors.

But on Thursday, citing the need for immediate action, Dosanjh, Justice
Minister Irwin Cotler and Public Security Minister Anne McLellan, announced
a number of measures to crack down on crystal meth producers and traffickers.

Crystal meth has been designated a Schedule 1 drug, which means the maximum
penalty for production and distribution has increased from 10 years to life
in prison. The government will also set up a special team of designated
federal prosecutors, armed with specially developed tools, to deal with the
most serious cases.

There's one more thing to do. Earlier this year, the government suggested
adding four substances used in the production of crystal meth to the list
of so-called "precursor chemicals." Illegal possession of these chemicals
would become an offence punishable by fines of up to $5,000, up to three
years in prison, or both. Why the delay?

Premier Lorne Calvert of Saskatchewan has justifiably won plaudits for his
efforts in pushing the problem of crystal meth onto the national stage. But
we must also acknowledge the work of the Saskatchewan Party, and in
particular MLA June Draude, in first bringing the issue to the attention of
the Saskatchewan legislature two years ago, and of Saskatchewan federal
Conservative MPs for keeping up the pressure in Ottawa.