WHITE SAYS TIMES COVERAGE UNFAIR

THE EDITOR:

In the Dec. 7 editorial ('What experts?') it stated that "they failed to
make sure some of the most informed Abbotsford residents attended their
meeting."

Even though the committee was working on a tight schedule, all media in
Langley, Abbotsford, Aldergrove, Mission, Surrey and Chilliwack were
advised a week prior to the event with a public notice, with most, but not
all, publishing the details of the meeting. During the three hours of
public hearings, we had organizations and individuals contact us to make
presentations. All were accommodated even though it limited their speaking
time.

Even though I cannot be personally responsible for those who did not
request presentation time, they still have the opportunity submit their
views by sending their written submission to my office. I will personally
ensure they get into the hands of every committee member.

I am disappointed the Times put down the expert testimony by such people as
a mother with a child on drugs, representatives from rehabilitation
facilities, several individuals personally affected by drugs, our mayor and
many other organizations that have been involved in the fight against
addiction. Once again, it is unfortunate your newspaper was unable to send
a reporter to cover the full event, therefore allowing yourself the
opportunity to make an accurate assessment of the quality of the expert
testimony.

The Times also failed to observe the fact that the committee spent time
with one very successful rehabilitation organization in our area (each
visit takes about two hours in total) and four others outside the area, in
addition to approximately 50 witnesses, all involved in drugs in their own way.

I had to fight hard in Ottawa to get the committee to Abbotsford. We could
not get to Mission, Chilliwack, Burnaby, Richmond, the Interior, the north
or most B.C. communities. That is the nature of the size of our country.

When we complete our final report in November, the drug problem facing
Abbotsford will be measured on the same scale as those occurring in
Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto and Halifax. Abbotsford will be
representing all medium-sized communities across this nation and in many
ways has handled the drug issue better than many cities that are three
times its size.

It's ironic that the Times finds time to complain about the committee and
pass judgment on an event it covered only a small portion of. Yes, I agree
there are many other voices that can be heard in our community on this
issue and I will continue to listen to them.

This truly is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have input on drugs on a
national scale and it is sad for your readers that you seem to have decided
to forgo that opportunity.

Randy White, MP Langley-Abbotsford

Vice-chairman, parliamentary committee on the non-medical use of drugs