CHIEF TAKES DRUG TESTS TO QUELL RUMOURS

THE chief of Norway House has taken two drug tests in an effort to
stamp out a whisper campaign that he is a drug user.

Both tests came back negative, he reported to his band council in a
memo.

"I trust this puts an end to the false claims I am doing drugs..."
Chief Marcel Balfour said in his memo, which included labratory
results of the drug tests.

In an interview, Balfour chalked up the allegations to "sour grapes"
steming from his election in March, a particularly nasty campaign with
Balfour narrowly defeating acting chief Fred Muskego by 40 votes.

Over the last week, a petition has been circulating in the remote
community calling for Balfour's resignation. It alleges that he is not
supportive of the community's effort to fight drugs because he didn't
back an anti-drug bylaw and employee drug testing policy put into
place last summer and has refused to be tested for drugs.

It's not clear who started the petition or how many signatures it has
attracted. But Balfour said he hopes that taking the tests will put an
end to any speculation he uses drugs. He added it was also done in
response to a public challenge issued by Muskego last month to get
tested.

"I wanted to show people that I was not afraid of being tested for
drugs but it doesn't meant I support the drug policy or bylaw,"
Balfour said.

Muskego could not be reached for comment.

Balfour was tested twice on May 3, once by Assure Lab Works, who do
the testing for the band, and by the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba.

Balfour said he got tested twice to remove any question as to the
results.

Rob Hawkins, of Assure Lab Works, said there is interest among four
other First Nations to get involved in drug testing. He attributed
part of that to growing drug problems in the north.

Hawkins, who worked in Norway House as a pharmacist for the last 10
years, said the drug problem there has increased exponentially in the
last four years

"There's been a huge increase in crack cocaine and methamphetamines"
said Hawkins. Norway House has about 5,000 members and is one of the
largest reserves in the province.

Their drug bylaw states that band members caught using or selling
drugs could lose their homes or be cut off social assistance. The
employee-testing policy applies to band workers, including elected
officials. It says they can be ultimately fired for using drugs. It
was felt that including elected officials was a way to lead by example.

Balfour says he didn't support the drug bylaw and policy because it
wasn't drafted in accordance with the Indian Act and could potentially
violate Charter rights.

Balfour said he's not opposed to some sort of drug bylaw, if that's
what the people want, but said he doesn't believe it's the best way to
go about fighting drugs.

"Let's attack the underlying reasons why people are using drugs," said
Balfour

He said treatment programs and more activities for youth are needed
along with hiring more band constables to go after dealers.