COMMONS COMMITTEE PROBES DRUG USE

Federal politicians will be listening to what the people of the Fraser
Valley have to say about drug use today.

The House of Commons committee studying non-medical use of drugs will take
part in various site visits and hear expert testimony from those who have
been affected by the growing drug problem in the area today.

The visit is part of a week long committee visit to B.C. and the second leg
of the committee's Canada-wide tour.

"I have fought for eight long years to have a parliamentary committee come
to our communities to see first-hand the problems that drugs have caused in
our prisons, our schools, our downtown cores and in each one of our lives,"
said committee vice-chair and Langley-Abbotsford MP Randy White.

"This will be a true eye-opener for those Members of Parliament who believe
the drug problems are limited to large urban centres such as Vancouver,
Toronto or Montreal."

The committee, formed last spring, is planning to visit Matsqui Institution
to hear about the ongoing problem with drugs in that facility, and meet
with students in Teen Challenge, a substance abuse rehabilitation centre
for youth.

After the visits, there will be a full committee meeting planned, to hear
witnesses from across the Fraser Valley.

The meeting will be open to members of the public, but they will not be
able to make verbal submissions.

Written submissions, however, will be accepted at: snud@parl.gc.ca or by
writing Carol Chafe, clerk, House of Commons Room 605 Wellington Building,
Ottawa, Ont., K1A 0A6

The committee meeting takes places from 2:30 p.m.to 5:30 p.m. in the Azalea
Rooms at Garden Park Towers, 2825 Clearbrook Rd.