Pubdate: Thu, 25 Mar 2010 Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC) Copyright: 2010 The Vancouver Sun Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/letters.html Website: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477 Author: Libby Davies 'TOUGH ON CRIME' DRUG LAWS Re: The war on drugs has become a war against us, March 23 The B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS must be congratulated for its important study demonstrating that Canada's overemphasis on drug-law enforcement will not reduce drug supply or drug-related violence. Columnist Peter McKnight is right to point out that many governments have an illogical attachment to the "tough on crime" approach to drug use, and this study is an important call to policy-makers, who must start using evidence, not ideology, as the basis for laws. I will take issue with McKnight's comment that the New Democratic Party has done little to oppose Bill C-15 calling for mandatory minimum sentences for drug crimes. The NDP strongly opposed this bill as ineffective and wasteful. We voted against it at second reading, at committee and at third reading. We didn't support the Conservatives bringing it back to the House after prorogation and will continue to oppose it if it comes back to Parliament. Libby Davies MP Vancouver East and NDP spokeswoman for drug policy - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart