ANTI-DRUG STRATEGY LAUNCHED

WINNIPEG-Prime Minister Stephen Harper is promising to put more drug
dealers behind bars and help users kick the habit as part of a $64
million anti-drug strategy.

The government will introduce legislation this fall to make prison
time mandatory for serious drug offences, Harper said yesterday. But
he refused to be specific other than to say the proposed law would
focus on dealers.

"Currently there are no minimum prison sentences for producing and
trafficking dangerous drugs like methamphetamine and cocaine," Harper
told workers at a Salvation Army centre in Winnipeg. "These are
serious crimes. Those who commit them should do serious time."

The Tory plan includes a promise to help border guards find drugs and
the products used to manufacture crystal meth and other substances.
There will also be more resources for police to close down marijuana
grow-ops.

But the Prime Minister took pains to stress a compassionate side to
the program as well. Two-thirds of the money will go to prevention and
treatment for addicts and to promotional campaigns encouraging young
people to stay away from drugs.