SIGNS SPARK CONTROVERSY

Cornwall recently made news across Canada with a controversial new program
specifically designed to combat and eliminate drug abuse. Other
municipalities are not rushing to adopt a similar program in their own
communities.

Although I welcome any move to fight drug abuse, I have some reservation
about this particular program.

This program is unique and innovative. However, I am not sure if it
invades privacy of others.

In Cornwall, if you deal drugs, the whole neighbourhood, and in fact, the
whole community, will soon know.

Anything that helps curb or helps eliminating distribution and sale of
drugs, is a good and right step forward and should be encouraged.

This program involves placing warning signs on the front lawns of houses
where drugs are found. This heavily risks stigmatizing some innocent
people who are in the same neighbourhood without a chance to defend
themselves.

I may be a law-abiding citizen living in a quiet neighbourhood. How am I
supposed to know what my neighbour is doing?

The strategy came into effect recently when Cornwall police raided a home
in the city's east end resulting in the arrest of three people who now
face drug possession charges. As police officers left the scene of
"crime," a sign, like realtors use to sell homes, went up. The sign boldly
declared: Drug Search Warrant Executed.

This may be a new and effective tactic in fighting crime.

The visible and catchy sign only remains on the lawn for a short time.
But, it is enough to tell area residents their neighbourhood is not safe.

News about such raids spread like wildfire. In a couple of hours, the
whole community knows a particular neighbourhood is infested with drugs.

According to Police Chief Dan Parkinson, the signage program is only meant
to notify residents and increase the force's presence in the community.

"Until somebody tells me that I have done something illegal or this is an
illegal strategy, then it is business as usual for me," Chief Parkinson
declared. According to Parkinson, he has received nothing but praise about
the program. This program, he said, is supported by other police chiefs,
his own police services board and the residents.

It may not be as simple as that.

The validity of this program needs to be tested in a court of law for it
to be kosher.

An innocent person living in the neighbourhood where a sign goes up is
branded living in an area where drugs exchange hands.

What was his crime?

What happens to the price of his property?

How does he and his family defend about living in a rather dangerous
neighbourhood?

Chief Parkinson said signs only go up if drugs are seized and individuals
are arrested. Such a program is harsh but it could deter the city's youth
from dealing or using drugs.

The first sign was placed after police officers seized marijuana, cocaine,
ecstasy and OxyContin, and arrested and charged four men.

The police chief is adamant there is nothing wrong or illegal about the
new program.

If it was that simple, every single municipality in Ontario and
municipalities right across Canada would be rushing to institute such a
program.

It is my understanding Toronto used to place signs outside homes that once
housed marijuana grow-ops, but the practice stopped three years ago when
questions were raised over the city's legal jurisdiction to do so.

Ontario's privacy commission has already launched an investigation into
the new Cornwall policing initiative whereby police officers erect warning
signs at homes searched for drugs.

"On the face of it, it strikes me that it is an extraordinary step,"
Information and Privacy Commissioner Ann Cavoukian said.

Graeme Norton of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association also has serious
problems with this program.

"This raises the potential that an individual may be made to appear as a
drug dealer in their community when they may not have done anything
wrong," he said.

To take this type of action when a person may not have been charged or
convicted is not right, he said.

Norton certainly has a valid point.

The province's privacy commissioner is looking into the initiative.

Let us hope Chief Parkinson did some research on this program and also
sought legal advice from the office of the Crown.