NO DRUG TESTS

Unlike Ontario, B.C. has no plans to test welfare recipients for
drugs.

Deputy minister of social development Mike Corbell says drug testing
would violate the human rights of B.C.'s 247,000 welfare recipients.

B.C. Liberals also oppose the idea, says justice critic Geoff Plant.
And Murray Mollard of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association said his
group "would be very concerned" if B.C. followed Ontario's lead.

Labour and social activists launched a protest in Toronto this week to
fight plans by the Harris government to kick drug users off welfare if
they refuse treatment.

In 1995, the B.C. government scrapped a plan to give welfare
recipients an extra welfare benefit if they went into drug rehab.