WORDS OR ACTION?

Residents of Manitoba have shown their concern in recent months over the
growing availability of the deadly drug crystal meth. There is real reason
to be concerned.

Every bit of evidence from other areas of North America shows that once
crystal meth gets a foothold in a community or region, it is very difficult
to remove.

The drug is addictive, it is deadly, and it shows no mercy or preference
for its victims. It is an equal opportunity killer.

What has proven to work is proactive measures.

Action that is taken before the drug spreads helps save lives. These
include education, controlling the sale of the drug's main ingredient, more
police in schools for education and drug enforcement, and a concentrated
effort to get rid of the gangs that produce and sell crystal meth.

Eight months ago, NDP Minister of Justice Gord Mackintosh said that he was
going to "take aim at the growing drug problem involving crystal meth."
Since then, Mr. Mackintosh and Premier Gary Doer have spent thousands of
dollars flying from Scottsdale, Arizona to Ottawa, Ontario (and all points
in between) saying it was time to get tough on crystal meth.

Yet, eight months later, nothing has happened. There is no control of the
sale of crystal meth's main ingredient; there is no education plan in place
by the government; it's hard to get any information on crystal meth for
young people or parents; gang membership continues to grow and police
scratch for resources.

A person can become addicted to crystal meth the very first time they use
it. Often they don't even know what it is. Drug dealers sell it as a
weight-loss product or a way to stay awake to study for tests or if driving
long distances. Some dealers spike crystal meth into other drugs like
marijuana.

What is most troubling isn't the eight months lost or the thousands of
dollars spent traveling around North America by Gary Doer and Gord
Mackintosh. What is most troubling is that in the fight on crystal meth,
time lost equals lives lost. That is the real shame.

Kelvin Goertzen, MLA

Manitoba PC Justice