Pubdate: Thu, 08 Jun 2006
Source: Kamloops Daily News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 Kamloops Daily News
Contact:  http://www.kamloopsnews.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/679

TOUGHER SENTENCES FOR DRUG TRAFFICKERS STANDOUT RESOLUTION AT FCM CONVENTION

Resolutions at the just-wrapped-up Federation of Canadian 
Municipalities convention in Montreal were few, but one stood out 
with a couple of Kamloops councillors.

Joe Leong and John DeCicco said one issue that stood out for them at 
the meeting concerned tougher sentences for people selling illegal 
drugs -- youths and adults.

"The most important resolution was about sentencing for people who 
were selling drugs to be more severe whether a minor or adult," 
DeCicco said Tuesday from Montreal.

"There were some arguments about being lenient the first time   the 
result was, it doesn't matter. The feeling was the government should 
be more severe."

Leong said there was debate on both sides of the issue, but it came 
down to most of the municipal politicians present agreeing there 
should be stronger measures and tougher penalties when it comes to 
drug trafficking.

Leong, like his colleague, was speaking from Montreal where both 
added a few more personal days to do some visiting or exploring.

Leong said he garnered some ideas from a seminar on tourism in rural 
areas, where circle tours were suggested as being a feature tourists 
are looking for.

"The rural and the city must work together. To bring it back to 
Kamloops, the City and TNRD have to work together to bring tourism in 
as a whole. That's where circle tours come in," he said.

Mayor Terry Lake went to Montreal a day early to meet with officials 
from the neighbouring suburb of Westmount, where pesticides and 
herbicides have gradually been banned.

With Kamloops looking at taking similar steps, Lake found Westmount 
began its phase-out in 1994 with a public education program.

He said restrictions were gradually brought in, at the same time 
seminars were held that offered alternatives to chemical use in 
yards. They also worked with garden clubs, professional landscapers 
and lawn-care companies, he said.

"They have a ban on most use of herbicides and pesticides, but you 
can, for instance, use pesticides in a very small area of your yard," 
he said, giving an example of being able to spot spray rose bushes, 
but not broadcasting a herbicide over an entire lawn. "I like the 
idea of educating people first. We've done that with Watersmart and 
are starting to do that with our Ecosmart team (with water and 
pesticides). And we have our integrated pest management hotline," said Lake.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman