DRUG-FREE PRISONS

The frenzy of funding announcements is bound to increase as the
federal government bounds towards an election this Fall.

Minister of Public Safety Stockwell Day told reporters that the
announcement of $120 million for a new anti-drug strategy in federal
prisons (see story, page one), in no way coincided with a possible
upcoming election.

That is hard to believe.

But whether it is a gear-up for the election or not, it's nice to
know that some federal funding is coming our way. With two prisons in
the community, there are a lot of Corrections Officers that live in
Harrison, Agassiz and surrounding communities. Their jobs are
dangerous enough without having to worry about convicts high on drugs
creating scary situations.

Aside from the obvious benefits of a safer prison for Corrections
Officers, the fact should be noted that with no drugs, convicts will
pay for their crimes in a sober state.

That is a good thing.

Convicts should not be allowed to coast through the monotony of being
in prison. They need to experience, and remember, every minute of
their time in our justice system. That is why we have prison - it is
not just to reform, as is the politically correct view of today. It
is about paying the penalty for their sins. Victims need and want
justice for criminal's actions. Being high is hardly a punishment.

The anti-drug policy makes sense, and hopefully the plan will be
followed through on whether the Conservatives are re-elected to power
or not in the not-too-distant future.