SWEET SMELL OF ABSOLUTION FOR OTTAWA STUDENT

Record Wiped Clean for Teen Who Was Suspended Due to Drug Dog's Suspicions

OTTAWA (CP) -- A local high school that suspended a 15-year-old student
after a police dog smelled marijuana on his jacket has apologized and wiped
his record clean.

Chris Laurin was suspended after an impromptu drug search at his school
March 26. A police dog identified the scent of marijuana on his jacket, and
the Grade 10 student at St. Matthew high school in suburban Orleans was
suspended for two days -- even though police didn't find any drugs and the
vice-principal admitted she couldn't smell it.

"The school board did make a mistake in suspending me before; they have
corrected that mistake," said Laurin. "I feel it was a sincere apology, and
I've been justified. And I've paved the way for other students to fight
back if they're wrongly punished."

Laurin and his father, Michel, protested the suspension and hired a lawyer.

After Laurin filed an appeal last week, the Ottawa-Carleton Catholic School
Board agreed to remove the suspension from his record on Wednesday.

In a private meeting Friday, school principal Andre Potvin apologized for
the suspension.

Laurin's lawyer, Lawrence Greenspon, said the school went too far and the
suspension clearly outlines how students' rights are regularly ignored by
schools.

"This case skirted around the main issue of students' rights and lockdowns
in schools," said Greenspon.

"The infringement of students' rights is a serious issue, but people
support it because of a misguided notion that it increases safety. It
doesn't. It decreases students' faith in the system."

Laurin's father said he's happy with how the situation ended, and hopes his
son has learned to stand up for his rights.

"I'm hopeful it made Christopher stronger," he said. "It was a subject that
needed to be brought up. Hopefully this will never happen again."