STUDENT SMOKERS FACE SUSPENSION

Proposed legislation would make it illegal to carry a cigarette

Toronto Star Queen's Park Bureau

Ontario students could be suspended and sent for addiction counselling if
they're caught with an unlit cigarette under a bill that has been approved
in principle.

Opposition MPPs yesterday denounced the proposed legislation as draconian,
likening it to ``grabbing a shovel to swat a fly.''

``Excuse me? An addiction program for someone who's carrying a pack of
cigarettes I think is a bit beyond the bounds,'' New Democrat Gilles Bisson
(Cochrane South) said.

Bisson said the proposed legislation would turn principals into police by
giving them the authority to conduct searches for cigarettes, drugs and
alcohol.

But Conservative backbencher Terence Young (Halton Centre) defended his
private member's bill, arguing it addresses the increasing problem of
addiction among young people.

``We have a very serious problem on our hands and it's time that we face
the fact that our drug culture is an entrenched part of our youth
culture,'' he said.

``Drug and alcohol use among youth is at its highest level since 1980,''
Young said, citing statistics from the Addiction Research Foundation.

Last year, almost 32 per cent of Grade 7 and more than 80 per cent of Grade
11 students consumed alcohol; 42 per cent of Grade 11 students smoked
marijuana; and 13 per cent of Grade 11 students tried LSD.

``It is easier to nip substance abuse in the bud than it is to deal with it
once it has become an addiction,'' Young said.

``While the popularity of drugs and alcohol are growing, so are the
societal costs, including academic failure and family breakdown,'' he added.

Young's bill, which has now passed second reading, would require a
principal to exclude pupils from classes and activities if they are found
with alcohol, drugs or tobacco, whether lighted or not.

The pupil could also be suspended.

Students would then be required to attend an addiction counselling program
before they are allowed to return to classes.

A spokesperson for Education Minister Dave Johnson told The Star's Daniel
Girard that the government is a long way from endorsing the bill.

``It's a serious issue that would require consideration and discussion and
debate before he (Johnson) could presume to have an opinion on it,'' said
Rita Smith.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski