Pubdate: Wed, 21 Nov 2007 Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON) Copyright: 2007 Canoe Limited Partnership Contact: http://www.ottawasun.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329 Author: Kathleen Harris Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Rob+Nicholson Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Stockwell+Day Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Marijuana - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?199 (Mandatory Minimum Sentencing) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts) FEDERAL DRUG PLAN DENOUNCED The Conservative government's plan to slap drug dealers and marijuana grow operators with stiff sentences is a U.S.-style "war on drugs" that won't solve Canada's problems, critics warn. Justice Minister Rob Nicholson and Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day yesterday tabled new legislation that imposes mandatory jail terms for those convicted of large-scale grow ops or selling kids hard drugs like cocaine, heroin or methamphetamines. There are also tough sentences when the drug peddling is linked to violence or organized crime. "Those people who are in the business of exploiting other people through organized crime and a host of other aggravating circumstances, we want to get serious with those individuals and send out the right message to them," Nicholson said. The legislation also allows the Drug Treatment Court to suspend the mandatory sentence if an addict offender takes part in a treatment program. But Liberal justice critic Marlene Jennings said extensive research in the U.S. shows mandatory minimums with "escalators" on repeat offences don't work as a deterrent. Many states have actually begun to repeal the rigid sentencing regime, she said. Ignoring Evidence "It's completely ignoring the evidence that shows what is effective criminal justice, and what would be effective Criminal Code provisions that would actually ensure that Canadians are safer," she said. NDP MP Libby Davies also denounced the bill as flawed and fashioned after the U.S. approach. "The overall direction of this bill is clearly moving to where the U.S. has been with its drug policy, the so-called "war on drugs," that has been a massive failure," she said. "U.S. prisons are filled with people who have been incarcerated as a result from drug crimes, it's really been no deterrent. And so for Canada to continue with that kind of direction and to adopt that model I think we have serious concerns about that." - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake