NEW ANTI-DRUG PLAN

Harper's Tough Strategy Applauded, Panned

Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced a new federal anti-drug
strategy in Winnipeg yesterday that was applauded by police and
addictions groups alike, but not by opposition parties.

The two-year, $63.8-million plan will provide roughly $43 million for
modernization of addiction treatment services, community anti-drug
programming and a public awareness campaign aimed at discouraging
youths from using drugs.

Enforcement

A further $21 million will go towards the enforcement end of the war
on drugs, with more money for police, Crown prosecutors, border
guards, correctional services and even intelligence agents in New York
and Seattle.

The government also promised to table legislation this fall that would
require mandatory minimum prison sentences for those convicted of
"serious" drug crimes.

Harper did not say what crimes would be considered serious or how long
the prison terms might be.

"If you fall into drugs you can get help to get out, but if you sell
or produce drugs you'll pay with prison time," Harper said of the
strategy. "We can't get clean overnight, but we'll put our country on
the road to recovery."

Tony Cannavino, president of the Canadian Police Association, said he
likes the tough stance on drug dealing.

"It's encouraging to have legislators who are on the same page as
we've been for years," he said.

"We don't want these dealers poisoning our neighbourhoods, our
schools, our brothers and sisters."

John Borody, CEO of the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba, was
cautiously optimistic about the plan and said he liked the fact
two-thirds of the money is going to prevention and treatment.

"Time will tell if it will make a difference, but not doing anything
won't solve anything. At least they're taking a stance," he said.

Two NDP MPs who attended yesterday's announcement panned the
strategy.

Judy Wasylycia-Leis (Winnipeg North) called the strategy a "George
Bush-style war on drugs" and said it needed "more treatment, more harm
reduction and more enforcement."

Harm Reduction

Pat Martin (Winnipeg Centre) said the federal NDP would likely oppose
the proposed legislation as the party has a history of being opposed
to mandatory minimum sentences, which he says take sentencing power
out of judges' hands.

The federal Liberals issued a media release slamming the strategy
because it doesn't commit to harm reduction initiatives like safe
injection sites.

The new money adds to anti-drug programming already in place, which
now totals $417 million after yesterday's announcement.