Pubdate: Sat, 03 Dec 2005 Source: Globe and Mail (Canada) Copyright: 2005, The Globe and Mail Company Contact: http://www.globeandmail.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168 Author: Gloria Galloway Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?241 (Methamphetamine - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?199 (Mandatory Minimum Sentencing) HARPER PLEDGES TO GET TOUGH ON DRUGS Burnaby, B.C. -- Stephen Harper said Saturday a Conservative government will be tough on drug crime and make it much more difficult for people convicted of drug offences to peddle their wares to children. At a press conference in Burnaby, B.C., the Conservative leader said he would impose mandatory minimum sentences of at least two years for people who are convicted of trafficking, selling or importing hard drugs, like heroin, cocaine and crystal meth. He would ban conditional sentences, or house arrest, for for all indictable offences and increase fines to reflect the true value of the profit that can be made for dealing the banned substances. Unlike the Liberals, the Conservatives would not decriminalize marijuana. Instead, they say they would introduce a national drug strategy that would target keeping substances away from young people. Harper says Vancouver and many other parts of Canada, particularly Saskatchewan, have experienced social disruptions because of the increased use of crystal meth and many members of the Conservative caucus have been outspoken on the issue. Mr. Harper said a Conservative government would work to get drugs off the streets and out of neighbourhoods. Mr. Harper is scheduled to travel to Victoria on Saturday afternoon for a pep rally with Conservative candidates. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake