Pubdate: Thu, 12 Jan 2006
Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Copyright: 2006, The Globe and Mail Company
Contact:  http://www.globeandmail.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168
Author: Sonja Puzic
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?143 (Hepatitis)

'STOP THE SOFT TALK ON DRUGS,' PASTOR SAYS

Drop Any Plans To Decriminalize Pot, Religious Leaders Tell Candidates

Greater Toronto Area religious leaders and conservative political 
activist Charles McVety called on all levels of government to 
intensify the war on illegal drugs yesterday, blaming the Liberals' 
drug strategy for gun crime and violence in the city.

Dr. McVety, president of the evangelical Canada Christian College, 
headed a news conference to address the issue in a small room at 
Driftwood Community Centre near Jane Street and Finch Avenue, a 
neighbourhood known for drug-related crime. Several pastors 
representing various congregations and youth outreach centres joined him.

"Today, we as pastors, as leaders in the City of Toronto, are calling 
on politicians, calling on candidates, especially before the 
elections. . . to stop the soft talk on drugs," Dr. McVety said.

"We are asking [the government] to withdraw any plans to 
decriminalize marijuana, any talk about legalizing marijuana or any 
other illicit drugs, and to make their position known so the people 
of Canada can make an informed choice on Jan. 23."

He also suggested Toronto's harm-reduction programs, which provide 
clean needles and crack pipes to street addicts, be stopped.

Toronto Councillor Kyle Rae, who endorsed the controversial Toronto 
Drug Strategy in October of 2005, disagreed. "I think the city has 
had an amazing drug harm-reduction record," he said, adding that the 
programs help save lives by limiting the spread of HIV and hepatitis 
C through the sharing of needles.

Rev. Bruce Smith of King-Bay Kids Outreach said young people equate 
drugs with power and a quick way to make money and suggested a link 
between drug use and the downtown shootout that killed 15-year-old 
Jane Creba on Boxing Day.

Tariq Wahad, a 60-year-old retired factory worker who lives in the 
Jane-Finch corridor, said he supports Dr. McVety's initiative to get 
drugs off Toronto's streets.

"Toronto especially needs to get young people clean and keep them 
away from guns and knives and killing each other," he said. "It's all 
because of drugs."

Alan Young, a professor at Osgoode Hall Law School, said linking gun 
crime to drug use and trafficking is a valid but "very simplistic" 
view of the problem.

"There is nothing inherently criminogenic or violent about drug 
trafficking," he said. "It is the prohibition of [drug trade] that 
creates violence."

Rev. Clifton Hall of the Church of God said Canadian laws hinder 
parental discipline because children can threaten to call the police 
and fabricate a domestic-abuse story in order to get away with drug 
use and violent behaviour.

"The government has taken a lot of the [disciplining] out of the 
hands of the families," he said. "Since the kids know that, the 
parents can only go so far."

Dr. McVety said he was optimistic about the power of community to 
bring about change.

"If we tackle this, we will have Toronto the Good again."
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman