Pubdate: Tue, 14 Oct 2003 Source: Daily Herald-Tribune, The (CN AB) Copyright: 2003 The Daily Herald-Tribune Contact: http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/804 Author: Canadian Press MAYORS SUPPORT WAR ON DRUG TRADE EDMONTON - Mayors from across northern Alberta rallied Friday behind a call from Edmonton's mayor to launch a fierce campaign to eradicate the province's illegal drug trade. The unanimous support from the group of more than 30 mayors came one day after Edmonton Mayor Bill Smith warned drug dealers and their clients to get out of town and challenged all Edmontonians to take an active role in the fight against illegal drugs. ''It's an Alberta problem, it's not just an Edmonton problem,'' Smith said. ''Drugs are very transportable. They move across all kinds of boundaries.'' The group of mayors meets three times a year to discuss common problems and projects. Several of them said their cities and towns are also in the midst of their own anti-drug efforts. Grande Prairie Mayor Wayne Ayling, as a former federal drug prosecutor in the city, knows first-hand the negative consequences of illegal drugs and the efforts of the RCMP to enforce the drug laws, he said Tuesday morning. "City council is extremely supportive of any new initiative that would assist the RCMP to tackle any drug dealers that happen to reside in Grande Prairie," he said. At a recent meeting with RCMP K-Division officials at the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association convention, mayorts heard about IROC, an enhanced criminal investigation unit, said Ayling. The mobile tactical squad is a new tool that will assist Grande Prairie, he said. Fairview Mayor Jean Charchuk described the call to action as long overdue and Drayton Valley's Mayor Moe Hamdon urged municipalities to share information about successful drug-fighting programs in their communities. Smaller communities like Camrose and Bonnyville also have recognized drug use, particularly crystal meth, as a problem. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin