OTTAWA HANDS OUT MONEY FOR ADDICTS

TORONTO - The lion's share of a federal grant to treat people
with drug addictions will go to Ontario - the province that will soon
force welfare recipients into rehab.

Ontario will receive $8.6 million to be spent over two years on
substance abuse programs in the province, federal Health Minister
Allan Rock announced Wednesday. It's part of a $15.5-million annual
commitment from the federal government to help Canadians overcome
their drug and alcohol dependencies.

In Ontario, the announcement is timely in light of a controversial
promise in the Tories' campaign platform that saw the party return to
power during last spring's election.

Premier Mike Harris said welfare recipients judged to have addictions
to drugs or alcohol would be forced to take treatment or lose their
benefits.

Rock distanced himself from the proposal Wednesday, refusing to say
definitively whether it was something Ottawa supports.

The federal government wants to ensure treatment for anyone who seeks
help, he said.

"I think it's important to have services available for people who want
them," said Rock.

"It's important for both the federal and provincial governments to
work together for that purpose."

An aide to Elizabeth Witmer, Ontario's health minister, said Ottawa
should prove it is committed to treating addictions by restoring
health transfers to the provinces.

"If the federal government was serious about improving alcohol and
drug treatment, they would continue to restore the over $2 billion
they've cut in heath and social transfers to Ontario since 1995," said
Barry Wilson.

Ontario currently spends $95 million a year on substance abuse
programs with funding split among 160 agencies across Ontario, Wilson
added.

Harris has acknowledged it will have to spend more once it expands
treatment to include all addicts on welfare.

Rock conceded that Ottawa's contribution may do little to help meet
the demand.

"We'd always like to be able to do more and there's no doubt the need
is great," Rock told a news conference at Breaking the Cycle, a
Toronto treatment centre.

"I don't pretend that (the $8.6 million grant) is going to solve the
problem, but I do say it's going to help."

Ontario's forced treatment proposal is being debated even among
front-line workers. Some experts say it doesn't work while others tout
its success.

Beverley Koven, who helps run Breaking the Cycle, says mandatory
treatment may initially have the benefit of reaching more people.

"I just don't know enough to be able to say whether that's the best
approach or not," she said.

"I know that this does work."

Koven said the province should concern itself not just with welfare
recipients who need help, but also the homeless, whom she's unable to
help because of lack of funds.