MAYOR'S CANNABIS CLAIMS CAUSE CLAMOUR

But Police Rep Agrees Student Drug Use Is Prevalent

Political opponents may doubt Mayor Bob Chiarelli's claims that a
majority of city students are smoking marijuana each day but one drug
unit officer said he's probably not too far off the mark.

Acting Staff-Sgt. Peter Gauthier of Ottawa Police's Drug Unit said
yesterday that cannabis marijuana is becoming a severe problem in
Ottawa's high schools.

"We get a lot of complaints from parents whose kids are using
marijuana," Gauthier said, a day after Chiarelli suggested up to 60
per cent of high school students are smoking dope on a daily basis.

Gauthier said police don't keep statistics on how many students are
using the drug, but police see instances of it on a regular basis.

"There is certainly a lot of cannabis marijuana in high schools. It's
definitely there and available," he said.

Yesterday, mayoralty candidate Alex Munter cast doubts on Chiarelli's
assertion and demanded he present proof.

"It's an alarmingly large number, and it would be troublesome if Mr.
Chiarelli were deliberately frightening parents. He is using city
resources to try to be re-elected, so there must be a report that
backs up his claim that he can release," said Munter.

Munter referred to 2005 statistics from the Centre for Addiction and
Mental Health that indicates three per cent of Grade 7 to 12 students
in Canada used marijuana daily.

"Bob Chiarelli says that today, 60 per cent of Ottawa students are
using marijuana. That's a figure 20 times higher than the country's
most reputable addiction agency," said Munter.

DEALING WITH DEALERS

. If re-elected, Chiarelli said he would support increasing the
number of police officers in schools to deter drug dealers from
selling on school grounds.

. There is currently only one officer for every 15 schools, but under
the mayor's plan that number would be changed to one in 10.