WESTON INTRODUCES DRUG BILL

A private member's bill aimed at giving Canadian law enforcement the
necessary tools to deal with ecstasy and crystal meth passed its
first test in the House of Commons this week thanks to area member of
Parliament John Weston.

Weston, MP for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country,
introduced Bill C-475 on Monday, Nov. 2, in the House of Commons. The
bill, introduced previously in a slightly different form by Peace
River MP Chris Warkentin, originally attracted unanimous support in
the House of Commons and broad acclaim from law enforcement officers,
educators, parents and others across Canada. The bill got to second
reading in the Senate before it was stalled when the last election was called.

The bill creates a new offence for the procurement of ingredients
with the intent to manufacture either of these highly addictive drugs.

Weston said when the attorney general asked him to introduce the bill
last week, he leaped at the opportunity.

"We're standing up for kids - kids who are getting into trouble with
drugs," said Weston during an interview on Wednesday, Nov. 4. "This
bill is important, but especially important to parents, of which I am
one. Every parent has to consider how you can prevent your kids from
getting hooked on drugs. No family, no matter what their income
level, is immune. We hear about all kids of families in my riding and
ridings across Canada being victimized because of this."

Weston said he has met with the three opposition justice critics and
they have indicated they are in favour of the bill.

"Chris [Warkentin] got it up to second reading in the Senate after
unanimous consent in the House. I'm fully confident I will get
unanimous consent in the House again," Weston said. "Given its
intent, which is to protect youth, and the good rapport I have with
these three MPs, it has a good chance of getting multi-party support."

Weston said he expects debate on the bill in the next three months,
then the bill will be turned over to the Justice and Human Rights
Committee, followed by second reading in the House and ultimately to
the Senate. He added he hopes to expedite the process given the
indicated support of the bill by opposition MPs.