MINISTER FACES CRYSTAL METH TASK FORCE

Monte Kwinter Has Kind Words But Few Solid Answers For Perth County's
Meth Warriors

The Perth County Task Force on Crystal Meth had a special guest at
its last meeting -- the provincial Minister of Community Safety and
Correctional Services, Monte Kwinter. Kwinter gave the group an
update on what the provincial task force was doing, and congratulated
the Perth group on its initiative and progress.

But after the meeting Perth medical officer of health, and task force
co-chair Rosana Pellizzari commented that while she appreciated
Kwinter's presence, "I don't think he had answers for us -- but he
reassured us" that since the province has cracked down on marijuana
grow-ops, they will do the same for crystal meth.

Pellizzari also said she was frustrated that there is no date as to
when these new measures, such as providing protective gear for first
responders, will come into play. "We are waiting," she said. "We need
this leadership and this strategy is very important to us...we in
Perth County are ready to go."

Kwinter began his presentation to the task force with a bit of
history on his ministry's actions on curbing illicit drug use. He
said that when he was assigned to the post two years ago, Kwinter
told the group, the "scourge" of marijuana grow-ops "was the big drug
issue of the day."

As such, Kwinter said, Project Green Tide was created to help crack
down on grow-ops and the marijuana drug trade. The first time he
heard of crystal meth was through conversations with bordering states
such as Wisconsin and Minnesota, who said that grow-ops were not the
problem; crystal meth was. "It wasn't even on our radar two years
ago," Kwinter explained. "But those states said, 'you will get it --
it's coming from the west,'" he added.

"As a result of the warnings and signs, we started to get concerned,"
the minister explained, and Project Green Tide was asked to include
crystal meth in its mandate.

Kwinter also updated the group on the crystal meth working group's
efforts. The group's report was submitted to his ministry at the end
of June, but due to the large scope of the report, other ministries,
such as Health and Long-Term Care and agencies needed to help review
the report. Currently, their recommendations are being reviewed, as
well as costing, for aspects such as safety gear for responders
entering crystal meth labs.

Kwinter also complimented the Perth task force for its unique efforts
in curbing the drug, saying that some parts of the province don't
have problems with the drug, and that "Perth can help keep it that
way...it's an opportunity to try to curtail its spread -- you are key to this."

Rick Young of the Stratford Fire Department asked Kwinter about
obtaining adequate equipment for first responders. "We don't have
adequate protection..training...or decontamination facilities," he
said, asking for proper funding.

Kwinter assured him that he was aware of the needs, and that Perth's
needs were specifically submitted by the task force. "But it's not
something you figure out on the back of an envelope," commented
Kwinter, explaining that costs across all agencies have to be
reviewed before he can give a final funding figure.

Martin Ritsma, a teacher at Stratford Northwestern Secondary School,
told the Minister that "children in our building are being impacted"
and that he's looking for more counselling funding than "one
counselor for one day a week at a school of 1,100."

Kwinter sympathized with Ritsma, saying that crime was a "two pronged
issue" for children -- the crime itself, and the causes of the crime.
he also told of summer work programs offered by the Toronto police
which sees teens from at-risk backgrounds being placed at all levels
of police services to hopefully get them to act as ambassadors for
the law and get them interested in policing; that many of these
students are from difficult cultural backgrounds can only help
increase the credibility of future police forces. "You can't just go
in and attack the perpetrators," Kwinter reasoned.

North Perth mayor Ed Hollinger took the opportunity to acquaint
Kwinter with the task force's resolution for the Association of
Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), which seeks to unite the province in
its needs to fighting crystal meth. The resolution outlines five key
needs: training and equipment, community education, health promotion,
legislation/enforcement and treatment.

Hollinger reinforced the need for financial support from the province
on the issue, saying that "perhaps the response (to the resolution)
will give you indication where it is of higher concern." Kwinter
reassured Hollinger that the AMO was part of Project Green Tide,
especially on matters of municipal powers when it comes to measures
such as cutting off electricity and inspections.

After Kwinter's departure, Stratford mayor and task force co-chair
Dan Mathieson said that Stratford City Council will pass the motion
at its September 25 meeting. Then, it can be passed on to other
municipalities before going on to Kwinter's office -- Mathieson
reasoned that the location of the signatories will indicate where
concern crystal meth lies.

Pelizzari also suggested that other groups, such as church councils,
the health unit and school boards pass around the motion to "create
momentum" for the resolution.

Focus Groups And Rehabilitative Care

In other task force news, Tracy Alan-Koester, the health unit's
director of community health, said that focus groups with high-risk
groups will begin in late October, to help determine how crystal meth
affects youth outside of the school system. Results are expected to
be ready in November, in order to see how these children can be
efficiently helped.

Catherine Hardman, executive director of Choices for Change, told the
task force that her subcommittee had completed its study to determine
where addiction management services exist within the regional LHIN
structure. While there are no services directly in Huron-Perth,
Grey-Bruce does do some triage services which they are willing to
extend to Huron and Perth counties.

Hardman also proposed that her staff be trained in auricular
acupuncture, which helps manage withdrawal symptoms. The treatment is
simple and effective, but there is no word on funding just yet.

Overall, Hardman says, Grey and Bruce counties are starting to see
more crystal meth cases, and they would like to join the Perth task
force in some capacity.

Dan Mathieson suggested a one-day summit for Southwestern Ontario, so
other concerned municipalities can see how Perth is handling the
crystal meth problem. "A more consistent approach means a more
consistent response," he reasoned, as crystal meth is becoming more
organized in its production and being "imported in" by organized
crime rather than produced in the home, according to Mike Bell of the
Stratford Police Drug Unit. Bell also gave some interesting stats on
the spread of crystal meth: to date in 2006, there have been 50
arrests made -- for all of 2005, only 24 arrests were made.

"And of course we're not getting everyone," he said. He also
suggested that laws should be altered to make possession for the
purpose of production illegal, such as people who are in possession
of a large amount of ephedrine or ether, two components of the drug.
Pellizzari and Mathieson will draft a letter on the matter, it was
decided, and forward it to the Federal government.

The task force will next meet on October 19.