METH NEEDS MORE THAN 'LIP SERVICE'

Lip service. That's what Maple Ridge-Mission MLA Randy Hawes is calling a
move made by the federal government Friday, when officials announced stiffer
maximum penalties for producing and trafficking crystal methamphetamine.

The move increases the former maximum penalty of 10 years to life in prison.

"It's a good thing that they've recognized a bad problem, but they're just
paying lip service to that problem," Hawes said. "I don't see the point of
increasing the maximum penalty when no one ever got the maximum penalty
before this . . . there's been no discussion at all about minimum
sentences."

Hawes suggested mandatory minimum sentences of no less than two years -
therefore, a federal sentence - be put in place for trafficking and
producing meth.

Abbotsford Community Services Addictions centre co-ordinator Lesley
Braithwaite also feels it's good the federal government is paying attention
to the problem, but wonders if longer maximum sentences a way to solve it.

"Even the death penalty isn't a deterrent to some people," she said.
"Personally, I think more needs to go into prevention . . . once [they're
addicted], it's an onerous job to get them clean."

She felt treatment beds and recovery facilities for meth addicts would be
more helpful.

"I've never seen a meth addict who doesn't want help . . . they don't want
to be where they are," she said, and added a new withdrawal management unit
at Chilliwack Hospital already has a waiting list. "It had a list before it
even opened," Braithwaite said. "I'd like to see a little more compassion
for these people. They're lost souls who are trapped in a place they don't
want to be."