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. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman