JUSTICE MINISTERS PLANNING ATTACK ON CRYSTAL METH

OTTAWA - Canada's justice ministers will next week try to take aim at
the growing drug problem involving crystal meth, which is spreading
like wildfire across the country.

The highly-addictive street drug -- also known as "speed" or "crank"
- -- has landed on the agenda of the federal-provincial justice
ministers, whose three-day meeting will focus on security issues.

"It has been proven that meth is a huge problem, potentially the most
serious drug problem south of the border, and my counterpart in North
Dakota says it is the worst law enforcement issue ever to hit North
Dakota," said Manitoba Justice Minister Gord Mackintosh.

"There has been a path of destruction south of the border that
Canadians must learn from. We cannot afford to repeat the pattern of
destruction we have seen south of the border. Canada has to take all
necessary steps to batten down the hatches to reduce the risk of this
becoming a serious epidemic in our communities."

Methamphetamine can be easily produced in so-called "mom-and-pop
bathtub operations" using such readily obtained products as cough and
cold remedies, coffee filters, rock salt and rubbing alcohol. However,
some 80 per cent of the drug is produced in "super labs," which are
obtaining the ingredients in bulk.

British Columbia appears to be the main source of the drug in Canada.
Manitoba has set up a special cabinet committee involving six
ministers as part of the province's response to the rapidly escalating
drug threat.

As well, Mackintosh is working in conjunction with his counterparts in
North Dakota, Minnesota and South Dakota to co-ordinate a regional
campaign against meth in the upper Midwest.