DRUG ADDICTS NEED TREATMENT, NOT JAIL TIME

It hasn't been a great week for British Columbians with announcements
coming from the provincial government about how economic forecasts are
bleak, the slashing of approximately one-third of the civil service, and
the Insurance Corporation of B.C. reporting it's still losing money.

But there is one bright spot, though. Attorney General Geoff Plant, who is
also the Liberal MLA for Richmond-Steveston, announced last week that the
proposed provincial drug court project will go ahead despite the cuts the
government is currently making.

The drug court will allow addicts the choice to either go for counselling
and rehabilitation or go to jail. It is clear that drug addicts won't get
better by sitting in jail. They need treatment in order to kick their habits.

The federal government hopes to have drug courts established across the
country by 2004.