PUNISHMENT FOR DRUG MAKERS

EDITOR,

A story that recently broke concerning an ecstasy lab on Vancouver's
North Shore highlighted the need for my private member's bill to pass
the Senate. Bill C-475 would create a new offence that would squarely
capture the type of unacceptable behaviour conducted by those who
create ecstasy or crystal meth in our neighbourhood backyards and
basements.

My efforts to get the law passed include ongoing discussions with the
Senators in whose hands the bill now sits, after it received unanimous
support in the House of Commons on June 9, 2010. We learned recently
that Larry Campbell, the Liberal Senator who championed drug reform as
former Mayor of Vancouver, will lead the way when discussion of Bill
C-475 resumes.

The importance of our bill was highlighted in Ottawa last week by Gil
Kerlikowske, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy
under President Obama, at a conference hosted by the Canadian Centre
on Substance Abuse.

Director Kerlkowske, otherwise known as the U.S. "Drug Czar," was
making his first visit to Canada in his current role. He emphasized
the need for countries, including Canada, the U.S., and Mexico to work
together. The audience included representatives of all levels of the
Canadian government; throughout the evening, we heard references to
the need for intergovernmental collaboration within countries as well
as between countries. In that vein, it's a promising sign that 12
First Nations and local governments within our riding have endorsed
Bill C-475.

Minister of Health Leona Aglukkaq has recently come on strong with a
holistic approach to dealing with substance abuse, childhood obesity,
nicotine avoidance, and other syndromes related to "healthy choices
(and unhealthy)" in life. Collaboration among government officials and
a holistic approach for the individuals are ultimately two excellent
ways to put out of business people such as those who would set up
ecstasy labs in our neighbourhoods to ruin our children's lives.

John Weston, Member of Parliament

West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country

West Vancouver