BOOZE AND DRUGS ON AGENDA AT SD 28

Alcohol and drugs were on the agenda at Wednesday's school board meeting.

Liquor Store employee and B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union
member Jim Cappan asked trustees to "support our resolution against the
privatization of liquor sales [in British Columbia]."

"I think the social costs will far outweigh the gains," he said.

Since he was addressing school board trustees, Cappan said the BCGEU is
concerned that more private liquor stores could lead to an increased sale
of alcohol to minors.

"We know that there are problems with alcohol in schools," Cappan said. "We
are afraid the problem will get out of hand."

Quesnel, Cappan continued, already has enough outlets where liquor can be
purchased.

"Isn't this town served enough by alcohol already?" he asked.

Store vacancies on Reid Street, Cappan said, could be an invitation for
more liquor stores to open.

Another flaw in the new rules regulating the sale of liquor, Cappan said,
is that municipal governments have no say about granting licenses. He said
he intends to address city council Monday regarding that issue.

Once Cappan finished his presentation, trustee Don Cunningham asked "don't
you think it's too late [to try and get the government to change legislation]?"

Cappan was vague in his answer, saying that "it could stop" and that it is
up to each community to express its concern. Trustee David Chapman agreed
with Cappan's arguments.

Speaking about his experience from working in Quesnel's jail, he said that
"booze is a big problem in Quesnel."

Then, towards the end of the meeting, board chair Louise Scott commented on
a copy of letter the board had received from their counterparts in Powell
River.

"A general nationwide permissiveness concerning marijuana use is a
significant threat to the health and education of our children in our
province," the letter addressed to Minister of Education Christy Clark
stated. "Unfortunately, the concerns expressed by the school trustees of
this province on this issue seem to have disappeared into a 'black hole'
Ottawa [which is contemplating decriminalizing marijuana]."

Scott agreed with her Sunshine Coast Colleagues, and talked briefly about
research she read regarding the use of marijuana.

For example, Scott said a study of twins in Australia indicated that
marijuana smokers are more prone to use other drugs like cocaine later on
in their lives than people who do not smoke marijuana.

Scott also said that it is easier for children to acquire drugs than it is
to purchase alcohol or cigarettes.