Sto:lo get $20,000 to fight crystal meth

The Sto:lo Tribal Council and the Fraser Cascade School District in Hope
are each getting $20,000 from the B.C. government to combat crystal meth abuse

Chilliwack-Sumas MLA John Les and Chilliwack-Kent MLA Barry Penner
announced the funding last week.

"One of the easiest ways we can help steer people clear of this deadly drug
is awareness and education, so I'm pleased to see the Sto:lo Tribal Council
will be using the funding for culturally sensitive educational activities
focused on prevention," Les said in a news release.

"Crystal meth ruins lives," Penner said in the same release. "If this
funding keeps even just one person from trying it, it will have paid
off."

Tribal Council officials could not be reached yesterday for
comment.

The funding is a part of $2 million the province is providing to the
Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) to help communities fight crystal
meth by providing $10,000 seed grants to every community in the
province that wants to participate and for similar community-level
programs for First Nations.

A ministry spokesman said the tribal council got an additional $10,000
because it formed a partnership with the eight Sto:lo communities in the
council. The Sto:lo Nation earlier got a $20,000 grant for the same reason.
The City of Chilliwack has received $10,000 from the fund.

In September last year, B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell announced a
$7-million crystal meth strategy for the province. The B.C. government
spends more than $1-billion annually on mental health and addictions
services.