Police and educators in Halton have 'dared' to make a 'brave' change. The region's public and Catholic school boards, in partnership with police, have instituted a new, more encompassing program that replaces the longtime, in-class anti-drug lessons. Gone after more than 20 years is the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program delivered by Halton Regional Police. In its place is Building Respect, Attitudes and Values with Others (B.R.A.V.O.). B.R.A.V.O. is an eight-lesson program for all Grade 6 students delivered by seven Halton police Elementary School Liaison Officers (ESLO). [continues 678 words]
News that the RCMP busted a small Fernie grow op last week stirred up mixed responses among readers. Some readers feel that cracking down on these small grow ops is a total waste of police time and taxpayers money, but others say these people are criminals as bad as any others and should be taken down. Short of looking the other way, the police still have no option but to charge casual marijuana users with simple possession. It's a criminal activity, even if the grow op is not involved in trafficking. That means costly paperwork for the cops, yet more strain on the overtaxed justice system and criminal convictions and records that can adversely affect citizenship, jobs and travel. It's also hugely inefficient. Barely half of drug-related cases result in convictions. [continues 332 words]
Halton Regional Police's announcement last Thursday that 22 people had been charged in a Halton Hills-wide drug sweep should be a wake-up call to every resident that drugs ARE a real problem in this municipality. Project "Main Street" was initiated because of complaints from citizens, along with Halton Hills Criminal Investigations Bureau detectives noticing an increase in crimes associated with drug use. Police seized $49,000 in drugs, six vehicles, a replica firearm and several prohibited weapons. Drugs seized included marijuana, crack cocaine, cocaine, ecstasy, MDMA, amphetamines and various prescription drugs. [continues 179 words]
TRENT HILLS - Northumberland-Quinte West MP Rick Norlock said he's confident a majority of Canadians support his government's efforts to get tough on drug traffickers by making minimum sentences mandatory. Bill S-10 targets traffickers who sell drugs to youth, are linked to organized crime, employ weapons or violence, and put others at risk. "I think the preponderance of people would say that you just can't give somebody a slap on the wrist for that, and that there should be a mandatory minimum sentence," Mr. Norlock said. [continues 833 words]
Over the past several weeks Halton Police officers have been beating the bushes-literally. Officers were busy uncovering nearly a dozen rural marijuana grow operations (along with a few residential ones) in a sweep that netted 1,500 plants worth an estimated street value of $2 million. Five people from south Halton were charged. According to Det. Sgt. Nishan Duraiappah of Halton Police Drugs and Morality Unit most of the rural grow ops were of a "third-party basis". "They (those running the illegal operation) would, for example, trespass on a large rural property owned by a farmer or a real estate development," said Duraiappah. [continues 161 words]
Here's a great idea. Let's, as Canadians, write both houses of our government, yes there are two, and tell them what our priorities are surrounding crime. Because they're only half getting it. Ending double credit for pretrial custody? Good. Mandatory jail sentences for people who grow and sell as few as five marijuana plants? Bad. A pair of Conservative "we're the toughest of the tough on crime" bills went before the Senate Justice Committee last week and were both greeted with suspicion from Liberals in the Senate, which produced nothing but outrage from the Conservatives. [continues 255 words]
Drugs Program A Hit With Kids, Teachers An innovative anti-drug and alcohol program uses a race track to drive home the message to Grade 5 students to... It was a race to the finish line. More than 500 students from 22 area schools participated in Racing Against Drugs program last week at the North Simcoe Sports and Recreation Centre. Students came from schools in Midland, Penetanguishene, Wyevale, Hillsdale, Elmvale, Waubaushene, Port McNicoll, Honey Harbour, Victoria Harbour and Christian Island. Velma Shewfelt, co-chair of the planning committee and project co-ordinator at the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, said Racing Against Drugs is a program for Grade 5 students. [continues 560 words]
Bylaw Establishes Protocol Between Town, Police Council has passed a bylaw to ensure that buildings used as marijuana grow operations undergo inspection and are restored to meet all standards before anyone can live in them. The bylaw establishes a protocol agreement between the town and the Midland Police Service, whereby the police will notify the town whenever they locate a marijuana grow op. Once the police investigation is concluded, a notice will posted on the building indicating it has been used as a grow op. Then, a co-ordinated inspection could be undertaken by the bylaw officer, fire department, hydro supplier, building inspector, the children's aid society, immigration and other agencies, as required, to ensure the premises are safe before it can be lived in. [continues 123 words]
Alcohol and marijuana are the most common substances being used by Halton teens, according to local students. A group of high school pupils from both north and south Halton told the Region's health and social services committee about the realities of teen drug use at its recent meeting. Oakville Grade 12 student Kayla Bulatovich said even though there are a lot of drugs out there, alcohol and marijuana are the biggest problems in local schools. "Binge drinking is a normal thing for kids," she said. "We need to reduce the risks associated with drinking by educating youth about safe partying." She noted there are a lot of myths out there about marijuana, like it's not addictive or harmful. [continues 301 words]
It's A Success Story Worth Nearly $16 Million. Crime Stoppers of Halton is celebrating close to 19 years of operation. Since its inception in Halton, the program has led to 736 arrests and the recovery of just under $16 million in drugs and property. The program operates independently from Halton Regional Police, but it's a co-operative arrangement that has helped police clear many cases-- 42 during last year alone. Crime Stoppers enables people to call in anonymously with information about a crime or suspected crime. [continues 328 words]
In light of health concerns and the impacts on adjacent property values, Town staff will take a look at what the municipality can do about marijuana grow-operations in area homes. Ward 4 Councillor Bob Inglis raised the issue at a recent council meeting. Town CAO Denis Perlin said the issue is also being examined at the regional level to see if there is a uniform approach that can be taken. Perlin said Town staff will report back to council on the grow op issue in 2007. Wards 1/2 Regional Councillor Clark Somerville said last term Town ccouncil passed a bylaw requiring an occupancy permit for any building that had previously been identified as a grow-op. [end]
Generally speaking, the rules of law are in place to ensure the public's safety. However, the Ontario government this week is taking action on two fronts to amend existing legislation after determining current laws are not protecting the public as well as once thought. On Monday, the provincial government announced it is planning changes to the Liquor Licence Act-- changes that were prompted by attacks on women whose drinks had been spiked with date-rape drugs. Currently, no one in a drinking establishment is allowed to carry their drink with them into a washroom. However, in the wake of several attacks on women who had left their drinks unattended and had knockout substances secretly slipped into those drinks, Gerry Phillips, Minister of Government Services, announced patrons will no longer have to leave their drinks while visiting the washroom. [continues 183 words]
Dear editor, Re: July 7 letter, 'National flag' upsets patriotic Canadian. You feel this is a disgrace to all Canadians? Speak for yourself. Our first flags were made from hemp and a lot of the supplies that helped our soldiers through the world wars were also made of hemp. Hemp is a great product that could actually benefit mankind in many ways if it wasn't outlawed by closed-minded individuals such as yourself. I, for one, do not drink alcoholic beverages so to me the packaging on Molson's products is a much bigger disgrace to our maple leaf. Kevin Theodoropolus Georgetown [end]
Dear editor, There are several folk around town selling flags this week. Most of them are soccer team flags for supporting your favourites in the World Cup. This is fine and a source of national pride for the countries involved in the World Cup. However, one of these flags on display, very prominently at Alcott and Guelph Sts., was a red and white flag similar to our country's flag approximately 3ft. by 4ft. The major difference in this flag was that the red maple leaf had been replaced by a marijuana leaf also in red. [continues 102 words]
Crime Stoppers Offers An Answer To Crime Problem Anonymous tips made through calling Crime Stoppers provides law enforcement and intelligence agencies with vital information which last year alone resulted in 1,146,569 cases cleared and 612,944 arrests made worldwide. The program has been instrumental in bringing together the community, the media and the police in the fight against crime. "I see Crime Stoppers growing tremendously since it started in 1976. Especially in Canada, I see it becoming more of a foundation for crime as opposed to the court system," said C/Const. John Smithyes, police co-ordinator for Crime Stoppers of Simcoe-Dufferin- Muskoka. [continues 572 words]
Halton's crime rate last year was at its lowest level in 30 years, and Police Chief Ean Algar called that a "good news" story when he updated Halton Hills council about the state of policing last week. In Halton Hills the crime rate was down 13.3 per cent-- 228 less crimes were committed (1,848) compared to the 2,076 committed the year before. "We think that's exceptional," said Algar. There was also a sizeable decrease in collisions with a region-wide drop of 3.1 per cent (259), and in Halton Hills a decrease of 5.7 per cent (48). Fatal collisions were down regionally 45 per cent (a difference of nine). Fatal collision stats remained the same in Halton Hills (2). [continues 455 words]
Health and social service providers in Halton say they expect to see an increase in the rate local residents are using the dangerous illegal drug crystal meth. This is one of the findings of a recent informal scan conducted by the Region's public health nurses to determine the scope of crystal meth-- formally called crystal methamphetamine-- use in Halton, resulting from a concern raised at a recent regional committee meeting and the media attention the drug has received lately. Halton Medical Officer of Health Dr. Bob Nosal reported to the health and social services committee recently that the majority of professionals questioned currently aren't seeing much crystal meth use in the region, but there's a general feeling that they expect an increase. [continues 461 words]
SIMCOE COUNTY -- Crack cocaine is here and has been for some time, while crystal methamphetamine, the drug of choice in the United States and western Canada, is slowly creeping into Ontario, say police. According to Huronia Combined Forces Drug Unit statistics, Midland alone has tripled the amount of crack cocaine seized already this year compared to that confiscated in the entire county last year. Midland police arrested and charged three people with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking Aug. 22, around 11 p.m., in the Galloway Boulevard-Algonquin Drive area following an investigation. The trio -- two people from the Toronto area and another of no fixed address -- was allegedly found with two ounces of crack and a sum of money. [continues 800 words]
Drug rehabilitation available SIMCOE COUNTY -- "The person who's just a drinker is a disappearing breed," says Bob McTavish, a registered nurse at the Georgianwood Concurrent Disorder Program based at the Penetanguishene Mental Health Centre. Today the combinations of addictions are "endless. Poly-substance abuse is really on the rise." McTavish said he has witnessed firsthand the increase in hard-drug use in the north end of the county in particular where he conducts assessments. McTavish, who's been with the Georgianwood program for 25 years and is also a member of the community outreach team, said the program was initially called Problem Drinkers, which is somewhat passe by today's standards. [continues 566 words]
If government officials seriously consider any proposal to allow only prescription sales of cold and allergy medicines, those elected officials should contact their family doctors (if they have one) for brain scans. Perth County medical officer Dr. Rosana Pellizzari has come out in favour of forcing physicians to write prescriptions for such medicines because the drugs contain the drug pseudoephedrine -- essential for the production of crystal methamphetamines. Dr. Pellizzari's plan may have a laudable purpose but the massive strain it will create on the health-care system and the inconvenience for millions of Canadians far outweighs the benefits in the battle against drugs. [continues 349 words]
