MP WARKENTIN SUPPORTS NEW ANTI-DRUG STRATEGY

Peace River Riding MP

OTTAWA -- Peace River Member of Parliament Chris Warkentin believes
the new National Anti-Drug Strategy unveiled Oct. 4 will will foster
healthy communities in the Peace Country. "Our government has made
fighting crime and building safer communities one of our top
priorities," says Warkentin. "This measure and others such as my
Private Member's Bill, C- 428, to combat Crystal Meth production,
ensures that our communities and our families will be safer and
increasingly protected from illicit drug use and related crimes."
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, joined by Health Minister Tony
Clement, and Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day unveil Canada's new
National Anti-Drug Strategy. The strategy will provide $63.8 million
over two years to prevent illegal drug use in young people, treat
people who have drug addictions and fight illegal drug crime. "Our
two-track approach will be tough on drug crime and compassionate for
victims," says Prime Minister Harper. "We'! re simply not going to
throw in the towel when the health and safety of our communities is
at risk." "Tackling the problem of drug use is going to take all of
us. Breaking Canada's drug habit will require a huge effort," says
Prime Minister Harper. The new strategy, which builds on and
refocuses current programs, includes a focused public awareness
campaign aimed at educating youth on the negative effects of illicit
drug use. Studies have shown that a growing number of Canadian youth
are becoming involved with drugs at younger and younger ages.
Combatting their exposure to highly addictive drugs is increasingly a
challenge for many communities. The National Anti-Drug Strategy is a
collaborative effort involving the Department of Justice, Public
Safety Canada and Health Canada and includes three action plans:
preventing illicit drug use; treating those with illicit drug
dependencies; and combatting the production and distribution of
illicit drugs. Reduceds! peed limit Motorists who frequent the
highway are reminded to! pay close attention to reduced speed limit
construction signs and slow down when approaching Watino from either
side of the roadway. "We're requesting the cooperation of drivers to
help ensure the safety of construction workers and the traveling
public," Saunders says. The existing bridge -- completed in 1950 at a
cost of $841,000 -- will be disassembled and removed from the site
by Sept. 15 of 2010.