Pubdate: Sun, 25 Mar 2001
Source: Chatham This Week (CN ON)
Copyright: 2001 Bowes Publishers Limited
Contact:  930 Richmond St., Chatham, Ont. N7M 5J5 Canada
Fax: (519) 351-7774
Website: http://www.bowesnet.com/ctw/
Author: Peter Epp

HARRIS SHOULD BE TESTED FOR COMPASSION

Leading with the nose once again, Iron Mike Harris fearlessly proposes 
another provincial ploy that guarantees blood and ballyhoo from all sides, 
left, right and center.

Courageously daring to go where no politician has dared to travel, the 
Harris clan has once again set their sights on Ontario's welfarians. Only 
this time they're asking welfare recipients to roll up their sleeves for 
another purpose.

First proposed in November, the wave of controversy  surrounding mandatory 
drug testing for welfare recipients has  yet to wash up on the shore of 
public opinion in Chatham-Kent. But it's only a matter of time.

What should be made clear is the outcome for recipients who test positive. 
Only those who refuse treatment will be denied eligibility for social 
assistance. What isn't clear is the motive behind the proposal.

Like many, we suspect that under the guise of "help", Harris and Company 
are once again furthering their mandate to drastically reform the 
province's social assistance program. Much like "workfare", the drug 
testing strategy once again places a humiliating flashing light on the 
heads of all welfare recipients, regardless of their personal circumstance.

Without question, welfare abuse exists in the backyard of  Queen's Park. 
=46ew would have sympathy for those who would be exposed and banished from 
the dole. But simple math and an ounce of compassion clearly points to a 
proposal that judgementally baskets all welfare recipients, including 
single moms and others who have temporarily fallen through the cracks.

We suspect liberal-minded taxpayers will not be the only ones opposed to 
the drug-testing plan. For an entirely different set of reasons, 
harder-hearted conservatives may also object to a plan that offers up tax 
dollars to rehabilitate those who enter treatment to keep their eligibility.

The Harris train will continue to roll despite the voices of special 
interest and those who occasionally oppose his tune of "the end justifies 
the means." We believe that, in this particular circumstance, that train 
should slow down enough to consider changing tracks while moving in the 
right direction.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D