MP PUSHING METH BILL

Hopes Early Election Won't Scuttle The Process, He Tells Rotarians

Few politicians will ever say they want an election, but MP Chris
Warkentin has an extra reason for wanting to avoid the polls any time
soon: An anti-drug bill he's sponsoring could die for the second time
if the government fell.

As the federal Conservative minority government moves toward its
second anniversary in office, time could be ticking for its
existence. And with rumours of a spring election flying, the MP for
Peace River is furiously hoping to get his new crime bill passed.

Warkentin is sponsoring the bill that will allow police forces to
arrest people found in possession of large amounts of the materials
used to manufacture crystal meth. The highly-addictive drug is made
from a variety of ingredients. Some of the more common ones include
various cold medications, household cleaners and ammonia.

Until now, police can only arrest people found in possession of the
actual drug. The change would allow an arrest based on intent to
manufacture the drug. It would also target people who sell large
quantities of the ingredients, knowing they were going to be used for
drug production.

If convicted, a person could face a prison sentence similar to other
drug-trafficking charges.

"The intent of the bill is to reduce the opportunities for drugmakers
to manufacture crystal meth. Basically, we're targeting groups that
will assist in the accumulation of the products necessary to make
crystal meth," Warkentin said.

He spoke about his bill to the Grande Prairie Rotary Club Friday. He
was introduced by RCMP Chief Superintendent Arlen Miller, who spoke
in support of the planned change. The MP said his bill is similar to
one first proposed by another Alberta Tory MP, but which died when
Parliament ended last summer and a new session was declared for the fall.

The new bill has cleared second reading is now being reviewed by the
standing committee on justice. The bill was publicly endorsed by the
Federation of Canadian Municipalities last week, said Warkentin.

"The reason I'm keen on this issue is the people using this drug
don't necessarily know they're using the drug; this drug is being
mixed into other things. It goes after some of the most vulnerable in
our society. It goes after people who are hurting or people who are
disparaged for one reason or another," said the MP.

If the bill clears committee, it would have to pass third reading and
the Senate. It's unknown how long that could take, which is why
Warkentin worries about the election timing.

"There are rumours. I'm hopeful we can move this through committee
and over the Senate and it can become law in short order. Of course,
as anyone knows, minority governments are always in jeopardy. If the
government falls, it's back to square zero. That's one reason why I
desperately don't want to see an election right now."