Pubdate: Thu, 10 Apr 2003
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2003 The Province
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Cynthia Low

'IT'S A SHAME DEPORTEES AREN'T ESCORTED TO PLANE'

The Wednesday Province articles on missing immigrants and foreign drug 
dealers involved in recent police sweeps blended two separate issues together.

As far as I know, most of the foreigners living and working illegally in 
Canada are Americans, which makes an estimation of the numbers much more 
difficult.

In regards to the foreign drug dealers, many of these individuals are at 
the bottom of the drug food chain and can easily be replaced in the 
supply-and-demand nature of the drug industry.

Many of them are addicted, with complex mental-health and settlement issues 
that may be a direct result of their experience with wars, forced 
displacement and civil unrest.

As a proud Canadian and "model" immigrant, I hope that we strive to deal 
with the root of our social circumstances in a compassionate and humanistic 
manner by providing adequate support services for those suffering from 
addiction.

The overemphasis on law enforcement and policing merely masks the real 
problems.

Cynthia Low,

Vancouver
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