TORONTO DRUG COURT, CANADA'S FIRST, WINS FEDERAL SUPPORT

The federal justice department is finally showing tangible signs of
moving away from the failed "war on drugs."

It is only a modest step at this point, but Ottawa's decision to help
fund Canada's first drug court in Toronto is a welcome step toward
treating addiction as a health issue, rather than criminalizing it.

The Toronto drug treatment court began operating Dec. 1, with Ottawa
providing $1.6 million over four years, primarily to pay for the
salaries of counsellors and other non-medical treatment. The object is
to divert addicts into rehabilitation programs rather than send them
to jail.

Modelled after drug courts in the U.S., the Toronto program "is
intended to reduce the number of crimes that are committed to support
a drug dependence by reducing drug addiction through treatment," says
a justice department release.

Hallelujah. The authorities have finally determined that throwing drug
addicts in jail doesn't cure the addiction.

Much of the impetus for the Toronto initiative came from Judge Paul Bentley
of the Ontario provincial
court, who tired of watching drug-dependent offenders return to their
criminal ways after serving a sentence without treatment.

"You can't just put people in jail . . . and miraculously expect them
to beat their habit," says Bentley, who oversees the court Tuesday and
Thursday afternoons. At this stage the program is restricted to heroin
and cocaine addicts.

There are two tracks for offenders. Addicts charged with simple
possession are diverted prior to plea and their charge is withdrawn or
stayed if they successfully complete treatment.

Repeat offenders or those charged with trafficking go into a second
track and must plead guilty, but sentencing is postponed and if they
complete the program, a non-custodial sentence is handed out. Those
who traffick for commercial purposes aren't eligible.

"I'm thrilled about this, we're really excited about it," says Gloria
Chaim, a clinical director with Ontario's Centre for Addiction and
Mental Health.

Along with a number of other community agencies, the centre works
closely with the court to provide the necessary services and
counselling. Chaim says she hopes the pilot project will "develop into
something that can really take off across the country."

Ottawa's money came from the justice department's crime prevention
investment fund, following a request for funding from Toronto civic,
health and justice officials.

Patricia Begin, the manager of the fund, said Friday "it's safe to say
we'll be providing support to an initiative in Vancouver's downtown
east side in the near future," but wouldn't elaborate. The city
requested crime prevention money following discussions around the
downtown east side revitalization strategy.

East Vancouver MP Libby Davies has reservations about the "ambiguous"
nature of the latter. She's still waiting to introduce a private
member's bill calling for clinical heroin maintenance trials to begin.

In the meantime, Davies is spearheading an informal committee of MPs
to lobby government to move faster. Fifteen MPs and two senators,
representing all parties, have responded favorably to her invitation.

Davies, whose constituency includes the downtown east side, knows full
well the human toll caused by drug abuse. As of Dec. 15, 347 people
had died of drug overdoses in B.C. this year -- only 10 shy of the
dismal record set in 1993.

"We're dealing with a nightmare, a crisis, and still there is no
co-ordinated national strategy," laments Davies. "It's still bits and
pieces, and that's what we've got to stop."

Checked-by: Rich O'Grady