DRUG COURT ON TABLE FOR WATTS' TALKS

Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts will be meeting with Attorney General
Wally Oppal to talk about the possibility of setting up a drug court
in Surrey.

Watts, who has championed the establishment of a drug court in the
city for some time, has had informal talks with Oppal about drug
courts on a number of occasions, most recently last weekend.

Now, she says, she'll be sitting down with B.C.'s top lawman to have
"an in-depth conversation" about the issue.

"It's been an issue that I have supported and championed for some
time, and I think it's high time we had some serious talks with the
province and see how we can make it a reality," Watts told the Now.

Drug treatment courts are currently operating in several Canadian
cities, including Vancouver, and there are about 1,200 drug courts in the U.S.

Just last week, the provincial government extended the operation of
the Vancouver Drug Court for another three years.

Drug treatment courts are an alternative for non-violent drug
offenders who agree to participate in a court-monitored treatment
program. Participation is voluntary and those who sign up stay out of jail.

Dave MacIntyre, program manager of the Vancouver Drug Court, says
the fresh approach to breaking the cycle of addiction has been successful.

Of the 400 people who have gone through the program, 68 are
"graduates," a figure MacIntyre calls significant given the
program's onerous demands - to graduate, addicts must be clean and
find a job and a place to live.

The Vancouver Drug Court focus on adults. Watts wants Surrey's court
to include teens because she believes fighting drug addiction early
is more effective than dealing with chronic drug addicts at an older age.

She also sees the drug court as a proactive way of responding to the
epidemic of crystal meth addiction among young people.

"We've got a serious issue with crystal meth and if there is any
hope that we can catch these kids early on, then they've got a
better chance of succeeding," Watts said.

The drug courts are funded jointly by the the provincial and federal
governments.

This year, funding was provided for programs in four more cities -
Edmonton, Winnipeg, Regina and Ottawa.

According to the Calgary Herald, Calgary lost its bid for a drug
court but Mayor Dave Bronconnier has indicated the city may be
interested in chipping in some money to help set up a drug court there.

Watts said it's an option she would consider if Surrey fails to get
on the fed's radar.