Pubdate: Mon, 07 May 2001 Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON) Copyright: 2001, Canoe Limited Partnership. Contact: http://www.canoe.ca/TorontoSun/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457 Author: S. Tahk, Alan Randell, Robert Sharpe, Tom Balaski Note: parenthetical replies from Sun editor, headline by newshawk DRUG TESTING PREJUDICIAL I AM disgusted with the opposition to the drug and literacy testing for those in our society who are not gainfully employed. Do these poverty activists, Liberal and NDP party members live with their collective heads in the sand? As someone who has battled with addiction and has attended OHIP-funded rehabilitation centres, I can say with conviction that I am eternally grateful to my employer for intervening when it was apparent I had a problem. Only when I was faced with the choice of losing my paycheque or getting help did I realize how far I had sunk into the abyss. With the support of the people I met and my loved ones I have been able to rebuild my life, reconcile my family and regain my self respect. Do other people not deserve a chance for recovery simply because they are on welfare?! Should we abandon those who are impeded from becoming productive and happy members of our society simply because they do not have an employer? I beg all the people, politicians and organizations who have spent their time opposing this initiative to channel their effort and energy into ensuring the program is run in a fair and compassionate manner. EVERYBODY deserves a chance! S. Tahk (Absolutely) MIKE HARRIS is one gutless individual. Rather than act like the true conservative he is supposed to be and abolish welfare altogether, he prefers to take the coward's way out and bleed the program slowly to death. Welfare is sapping the confidence and strength of our people. Let's end it. Alan Randell Victoria, B.C. (Imagine the outcry) PREMIER MIKE Harris has failed to consider that driving drug use underground only compounds the problem. The plan to coerce welfare recipients into drug treatment will have the perverse effect of forcing addicts to suffer in silence. The drug tests used to enforce this misguided policy could very well compel pot smokers to resort to heroin and crack to avoid detection. Marijuana is the only drug that stays in the body long enough to make urinalysis a deterrent. Harder drugs are water-soluble and exit the human body within 48 hours or less. Robert Sharpe, Program Officer, Lindesmith Center/ Drug Policy Foundation, Washington, DC (There's an argument we hadn't heard before) WITH REGARD to Ontario's new policy of testing their poorest citizens for drugs, alcohol and literacy, I think the policy is somewhat prejudicial. To be ethically and morally fair it is absolutely essential that others who live off the taxpayers' money should be subject to similar restraints. I would therefore propose that all MPPs, from Premier Harris on down, should be subject to random drug tests at least 12 times a year and they all should be given a high school equivalent Canadian history and math test. Every failure should be stripped of all wages and benefits until they can prove their worthiness. Or do those with money or power have special rights in Ontario? Tom Balaski Calgary (MPPs are regularly tested, every four years. It's called an election) - --- MAP posted-by: Thunder