DRUG POLICY WAY OFF BASE

As in the U.S., where the war on drugs has been ongoing for decades,
this Canadian effort will likely create a few jobs in the areas of
law enforcement.

We will, over the long term, likely need to build more jails (as they
have needed to do in the States) in order to house non-violent
offenders, and our recently announced federal surplus will probably
help to pay for this ongoing cost.

Never mind that incarceration will cost more than rehabilitation;
Stephen Harper clearly believes the jobs created are more important
than the negative costs to our society. These fellow Canadians --
these neighbours, co-workers, family and friends of ours -- they're
only addicts, right? Harper says we should lock 'em up!

I am a recovered addict, clean and sober for seven years. I've just
brought my family to Nanaimo, and soon we'll be purchasing a house.

After using drugs for nearly a decade, I managed to make it out of
active addiction, disease-free and with no criminal record, largely
due to the community support and addiction-recovery services that
were available to me prior to getting clean.

I'm not shy about this fact; I'm proud of the man I am, and I'm
grateful to be living in this country with a history of giving and
sharing that shows we take care of our own.

Harper is trying to take these opportunities away from other Canadians.

Cameron Wigmore,

Nanaimo.