SENATE DELAY ON DRUG BILL RISKS LIVES: JUSTICE MINISTER

Bill C-15, Which Legislates Mandatory Jail Terms For Dealers And
Producers, Reached Senate In June

Federal Justice Minister Rob Nicholson slammed the Senate Wednesday
for not pushing through new legislation implementing mandatory jail
terms for drug producers, smugglers and traffickers.

Nicholson toured a mock Vancouver marijuana-growing operation with
police and firefighters at his side before telling reporters that the
holdup in passing Bill C-15 was risking the lives of Canadians.

"Drug labs and grow-ops are a sign of gangs and organized crime
activity and their presence threatens the safety of B.C.
neighbourhoods and in particular our children," Nicholson said.

"They also lead to more crime and gang violence on our streets and
more risk to law enforcement officers as organized criminals fight to
establish and protect their turf."

He said the bill would deter those willing to set up clandestine labs
and growing operations.

"I have been calling on Michael Ignatieff to do something this summer
about the holdup we have in the Canadian Senate," Nicholson said.

"I had a hard enough time getting that bill through the House of
Commons, and then when it got to the Senate at the beginning of June,
we found it impossible to even get them to debate it."

He said he had briefings with Vancouver police and fire department
officials about the gang problem and the resulting labs and growing
operations that officers have to dismantle.

"It is fraught with dangers. There are many, many safety concerns,"
Nicholson said. "C-15 imposes mandatory jail terms for drug producers
and traffickers who target our children. We take aim at those who
import-export drugs, people in the grow-op business, people who
produce methamphetamines, heroin, other drugs. We send out the correct
message to them, that if you get involved in this kind of activity,
you are going to jail."

Nicholson said there is ample evidence that marijuana is the currency
of organized crime and that much of the market for Canadian pot is
foreign.

Acting deputy fire chief Tim Armstrong said the number of clandestine
labs is on the rise in Vancouver.

"We are seeing these laboratories in high-rise apartment buildings
downtown, in three-storey walk-up buildings, residential homes. They
are really popping up anywhere," he said.

Vancouver police Insp. Brad Desmarais, head of the gang squad, said
the labs and marijuana operations "are profit-making
businesses."

"They represent often a significant profit line for organized crime,"
Desmarais said.

He said police find children and families in the homes used for such
operations at least 30 per cent of the time.

"We are focused in reducing the impact, reducing the profitably of
these operations, as well as ensuring the public safety is taken care
of."