MP WANTS METH CRACKDOWN

Portage-Lisgar MP Brian Pallister is championing a private members
bill, to create new offences for production and possession of
"precursor" chemicals used to make the drugs.

The tools they need

Put forward by a Conservative colleague, Pallister said the bill will
give police the tools they need to deal with what he calls a growing
problem, and not one restricted to big cities. "Crystal Meth is
having a disastrous effect on our rural communities," he said. "This
bill will help to curb the harmful effects of this drug, especially
on our young people."

The bill will establish a new offence prohibiting the possession of
Class A precursors for the purpose of producing methamphetamine.

It will develop a new offence prohibiting the production and
trafficking of Class A precursors. It will also create a new offence
prohibiting the possession of equipment, chemicals and other
materials for producing methamphetamine and create a new offence
prohibiting the sale of equipment, chemicals and other materials for
the same purpose.

Hard to catch dealers

Pallister said it can be difficult to nab Crystal Meth dealers and producers.

"Because of its low cost of production, the drug dealers who make
Crystal Meth are hard to identify and track," he said. "By creating
new offences that target 'precursor' materials used to produce this
drug, we can begin to attack this growing problem at the source."