STIFF PENALTIES 'NO DETERRENT'

Too Much Profit In Meth

The stiffer sentences for selling crystal meth introduced by Ottawa
yesterday aren't enough to deter people from entering the lucrative
business, says Don Bruneau, the uncle of an alleged drug dealer.

Rodger Patrick Bruneau, 42, was charged last September with conspiracy to
produce and export the drug but died of a heart condition before answering
to the charges.

"No question, it was the money. It was too good to back away from," said
Don Bruneau, a Lac du Bonnet resident.

Ottawa announced yesterday the penalties for crystal meth offences would be
increased from a maximum of 10 years to a maximum of life in prison.

As well, crystal meth was moved to Schedule I of the Controlled Drugs and
Substances Act, which puts it in the same legal category as cocaine and heroin.

Don Bruneau said the possibility of life imprisonment wouldn't have been
enough for his nephew to make a clean break of his alleged dealing.

Justice Minister Gord Mackintosh agrees the federal government's crackdown
is only a first step.

"This change is important because the current maximum of 10 years was
completely out of sync with the devastation of crystal meth on users and
communities," said Mackintosh. "Recognizing this is a good first step, we
want to work with Ottawa for a more robust package."

Mackintosh is calling on the feds to criminalize key ingredients, such as
ephedrine, and equipment used for making crystal meth. He also wants
stronger controls on over-the-counter drugs that contain ephedrine.

Provincial Tory justice critic Kelvin Goertzen said the federal
government's action was "hollow" and will do nothing to stop the growing
availability of crystal meth.

'Nobody Gets Them'

"The problem with maximum sentences in Canada is that nobody gets them.
It's no real deterrent," said Goertzen.

Federal Conservative justice critic Vic Toews called the crackdown a
"Liberal Band-Aid" that will do nothing to help communities facing a
shrinking RCMP presence.

"This is a drug that is especially popular in small rural communities in
Western Canada that are also facing severe shortages of RCMP officers,"
Toews stated in a media release.