POLICE ASSOCIATION SEEKS NATIONAL DRUG STRATEGY

OTTAWA-- A group representing Canadian municipal police authorities urged
the federal government to implement a national drug strategy yesterday as
it denounced the legalization of illicit drugs, including marijuana.

"This resolution, which has been endorsed by all three of the country's
national policing advocates -- the boards, the officers and the chiefs --
we believe will send a clear message to our nation's leaders," said Herb
Kreling, president of the Canadian Association of Police Boards.

The association, which represents more than 50 municipal police boards
across Canada, passed the resolution at its annual general meeting.

Kreling says the resolution also has the support of the Canadian
Association of Chiefs of Police and the Canadian Police Association.
Previous proposals on child pornography and organized crime have ended up
enshrined in federal legislation.

Both Justice Minister Martin Cauchon and Solicitor General Lawrence
MacAulay have been told of the decisions reached during the two-day
conference, Kreling said.

MacAulay attended the conference Friday and will meet again with the
association to discuss national policing issues.

"We gave the minister the opportunity (Friday) to bring his comments to
us," he said.

"We did not push him for an immediate response. We will be meeting with the
minister more formally in about six months' time and, at that time, we'll
be looking for a more formal response."

Kreling also said he is expecting to meet informally with Cauchon in the fall.

The association is also asking MacAulay for an external review of a
Correctional Services policy which allows maximum-security prisoners to be
upgraded to lower security facilities.