RAPE-DRUG TESTING LABS NEEDED, SAYS LIBERAL CRITIC

The Liberal justice critic is calling on the provincial government to
provide easy access to testing for women who feel they've been given a
date-rape drug. Michael Bryant said use of drugs in sexual assaults is on
the rise, but currently, women who feel they've been drugged can't get
tested without the involvement of police.

"It's incredible," he said.

"(Women) can't find out whether or not someone has given them a date-rape
drug."

He said police have to be involved because samples must be sent to the
Centre for Forensic Sciences -- the only lab equipped to test for date-rape
drugs.

Bryant said labs across the province should be funded to do the tests so
they can be as readily available and as confidential as tests for sexually
transmitted diseases.

"I want the government to join the fight on the rise in date-rape drug
sexual assaults ... It's important women be given the opportunity to
understand what has been done to their bodies so they can start making
choices."

Bryant said a woman could then decide to go to police after knowing for
sure she was drugged.

Bryant made the announcement with the support of Ted McMeekin, Liberal
byelection candidate, and Julie Pehar of the Halton Sexual Assault Crisis
Centre.

Pehar said the use of drugs in sexual assault is increasing.

Often the drugs leave the victim confused and unable to remember what
happened, she said.

Pehar added that victims may suspect they were drugged but can't recall the
incident, which could make a police investigation difficult.

Last week, a 19-year-old Hamilton woman collapsed at a Hess Village bar.

Medical officials suspected she had been given Special K, a date-rape drug.

The woman, who told friends she felt drugged, passed out in the bar Aug. 17.

Her friends called an ambulance and she was taken to hospital.

She was not sexually assaulted.

NDP byelection candidate Jessica Brennan and Green Party candidate Mark
Coakley both support Bryant's proposal.

Coakley said eliminating the involvement of police could be key for women
who feel they've been sexually assaulted.

"You don't want women to feel frustrated or embarrassed about going to
check on something as important as that."

Brennan said women have a right to know if they've been drugged so they can
decide what action to take.

"The drug itself produces blackouts and loss of memory so you don't even
know yourself (what happened)," she said.

Tory candidate Priscilla de Villiers said she would need to research the
issue before commenting.