GOVERNMENT GETS TOUGH ON DRUGS

Dear Editor:

On Nov. 20, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Rob
Nicholson introduced legislative reforms for mandatory jail time for
people who commit the serious crimes of producing and selling illegal
drugs. The safety of our communities must be protected from illegal
drug producers and dealers; those producers and dealers must face
tougher penalties. The proposed amendments this government is
introducing - resulting in mandatory prison sentences for certain
serious drug offences - will go a long way toward protecting the
communities we live in. These amendments will make offenders think
twice about setting up grow ops and drug labs in our residential areas
and, particularly, lessen the exposure of our youth to drugs. The
message is clear: if you sell or produce drugs - you'll pay with jail
time. This legislative measure is part of the Government of Canada's
$63.8 million national anti-drug strategy. This strategy is a
collaborative effort involving the Department of Justice, Public
Safety Canada and Health Canada. The strategy includes three action
plans: preventing illicit drug use; treating those with illicit drug
dependencies; and combating the production and distribution of illicit
drugs.

Myron Thompson, Wild Rose MP