GOVERNMENTS HAVE BECOME HYPOCRITICAL REGARDING CHEMICAL ADDICTION: SAYS READER

Dear Editor: Recently the Toronto Sun reported that the federal government
is in the process of approving public funding for safe injection sites for
drug users.

This differs from the needle exchange program in that trained medical
professionals will monitor the injection of drugs. Estimates vary but
millions of dollars are spent on the apprehension, education and medical
treatment of drug addicts.

On the other hand the federal and provincial governments take in some $7 to
8 billion in taxes from cigarette smokers and won't even pay for modest
methods for reducing nicotine dependency. Methadone is okay but not
Nicorette Gum. Go figure!

As was proven in the days of prohibition, prohibition doesn't work and it's
not going to work with the 100 per cent smoking ban council has forced on
private-area business and some 25 per cent of the voting public. It hasn't
worked anywhere else so why will it work in Milton?

Milton citizens didn't and haven't been asking for this 100 per cent ban
despite anecdotal evidence to the contrary.

A variety of types of businesses and their employees are suffering
significant financial loss.

Most Miltonians agreed with the need for improved ventilation systems and
clearly-defined smoking and non-smoking establishments or areas within
establishments. Banning children and limiting the minimum age to 19 for
entry was also a recommendation.

Nobody I can find defends or extols the benefits of smoking. Like it or
not, nicotine is considered one of, if not the most addictive of drugs.

The hell with smokers, say councillors Rich Malboeuf and John Challinor.

Council should let the feds and the provinces make the decisions on health
matters and get themselves back to the more mundane matters of cleaning our
roads and picking up garbage.

That's why we pay municipal taxes.

Pat Kelly, Milton