Pubdate: Tue, 03 Oct 2006
Source: Metro (CN ON, Ottawa)
Copyright: 2006 Metro
Contact:  http://www.metronews.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4032
Author: Kenneth Jackson

MUNTER TALKS TOUGH ON CRIME AS ELECTION LOOMS

Police would be directed to crack down on crystal meth producers if 
Alex Munter becomes mayor, the candidate said yesterday in unveiling 
his crime and safety plan for Ottawa.

Munter has spoken with city police who advise him the drug is making 
its way from out west to Ottawa and is becoming a problem. The 
mayoral candidate's plan calls for "get tough" measures that include 
raids on suspected meth labs, similar to those executed against 
marijuana grow-ops.

"This drug is destroying the lives of youth across Canada," Munter 
said yesterday in presenting his sixpoint plan.

"In some cities, its use has reached crisis proportions. If we're 
going to stop that from happening in Ottawa, we need to act now."

While declining to wade into the mayoral debate, Ottawa drug 
enforcement officer Staff Sgt. Marc Pinault said yesterday that the 
highly addictive drug is already a "problem here" -- but not always 
in the form everyone thinks.

Some chemical tests on ecstasy confiscated by police recently are 
"coming back as methamphetamine not MDNA," said Pinault, of Ottawa 
Police's drug unit.

He said meth is being sold to users who believe they are buying 
ecstasy. When the drugs wear off, the after-effects can be much more severe.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Elaine