COMMUNITIES MUST BUY INTO REGIONAL STRATEGY TO EFFECTIVELY CLEAN UP STREET
DRUG ABUSE

A regional four-pillar plan to address crime and abuse is in danger of
failing unless municipalities stop putting obstacles in the way.

The plan was developed several years ago with federal funds by the Lower
Mainland Municipal Association (LMMA), an organization of civic politicians
from 31 municipalities in Greater Vancouver, Fraser Valley and
Squamish-Lillooet.

It closely parallels Vancouver's plan for harm reduction, enforcement,
treatment and prevention and aims to have communities develop strategies
for curbing crime and the harmful effects of alcohol and drug abuse.

Nearly 80 per cent of Lower Mainland crime is alcohol or drug related,
which is why a comprehensive regional plan is worth supporting. It's been
too easy for the suburbs to let Vancouver deal with the region's drug
addiction.

The city is seen by the region as empowering its addicts in the Downtown
Eastside, with social housing, neighbourhood drug services, minimal
enforcement and, if approved by the feds, Canada's first supervised safe
injection site.

"It's a neighbourhood addicts call their own," says North Vancouver city
councillor Bob Fearnley, LMMA president.

"All communities have drug and alcohol abusers...and they're flocking to
Vancouver instead of trying to seek help near their homes..."

Many civic politicians prefer to use bylaws and policies as obstacles to
comprehensive services -- which makes a regional plan difficult. Surrey
jacked up its annual business licence for methadone clinics to $10,000 from
$195 to discourage their operations.

Municipalities say they don't want harm reduction services because of fear
of attracting undesirable drug users. Vancouver, on the other hand, is big
on harm reduction but doesn't seem to want the enforcement pillar, with
this week's rejection of a police department request for a $2.3 million
special enforcement team.

A regional plan means harm reduction services in Surrey and law enforcement
to combat drug-related crime in Vancouver.

The point of a four-pillar plan is to have all four pillars in unison. The
problem can't be solved if politicians cherry-pick from supposedly
integrated elements of a plan and refuse to act on others.

While apparently on Vancouver's back burner, enforcement is a high priority
for Surrey, now three months into a year-long plan to clean-up crime-ridden
Whalley.

Mayor Doug McCallum created "action teams" with city, police, fire, bylaw
enforcement and engineering staff working together to enforce
zero-tolerance. Property owners say the plan shows signs of success. But
there's still a desperate need for detox and drug treatment services,
especially for youth as well as prevention resources in the schools. Surrey
needs to support these things, just as Vancouver needs to support law
enforcement. It's no wonder other municipalities are struggling to accept a
four-pillar plan when they have yet to see one in action.