Pubdate: Mon, 30 Oct 2000
Source: National Post (Canada)
Page: A10
Copyright: 2000 Southam Inc.
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Author: Jane Taber

ALLIANCE WANTS ADDICTS TO AVOID JAIL

The Canadian Alliance is poised to release a bold new drug strategy
that would see repeat drug offenders sentenced to intermediate-term
and long-term drug rehabilitation facilities, rather than prison. The
facilities would be built across the country, with funding from both
an Alliance government and provincial governments.

"This is the only way to break the cycle," said Randy White, the CA
justice critic and a B.C. MP. "What we have to do is make a commitment
with provinces to fund facilities like this. Then we have to make a
commitment to get those who are addicted, who are out there committing
crimes, off the street, not in a prison, but a facility to help them."

This is one element of the CA's justice platform, which Stockwell Day,
the CA leader, will be releasing in the next few weeks.

Mr. White said legislation would have to spell out at which point a
drug addict would be sentenced to the rehabilitation facilities, and
provinces can "look forward" to substantial help in funding these
facilities from a CA government.
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