ee -HILIP_OWEN has some —
“ -[Led hard-won advice for any-
~.-'J. . ‘one who's serious ‘about ~~ -
. + tackling the drug Pro: oes
'.blem in ‘our.city.” =
. +; Treating drug addicts and’ sub.
“as oe stance: abusers, ‘like. criminal:
doesn’t work: * wa
- The: conservative. former tayo
of Canada’ 's third: largest’ city: wai
‘instrumental ‘in. developing an al
‘ternative, - . :
“The: ‘four: pillars’ “drug. itratees
there i is “grounded ‘i in, pragmatism.
‘Along: with” prevention; treat:
‘Ment, ‘and: law enforcement. th
: plan’ Telies- ‘on. harm’ eduction
Strategy: ‘that aims to reduce over:
dose: deaths and the spread. of dis
«base.
4 "Viewing: ‘addicts “as ‘better 7
‘served, by. the: health: system ‘and.
“not the justice system, frees. up, re-:
sources so: law. enforcement: offi
cials ‘can “concentrate’on’ nabbin
‘the dealers and producers: . Sy
: “The: ‘Use: is: ‘sick,”. Owen told ”
an: ‘audience ™’ in: ‘Tertace: “this.
‘month, “The. dealers: and distribu
tors’ are: evil. eran :
“Owen's” ‘strategy: includes the
“introduction of ‘safe injection ‘sites:
“=a place off. the-'streets: where ad-.
‘dicts*can shoot up’ ‘away. from. the.
“stréet, but under supervision, te-°
‘ducing | ‘the risk of overdose deaths.
Now, nearly - two. -years« after: ©
‘Vancouver: “city ‘council: ‘imple-
mented. mayorOwén’s contraver
sial drug plan, there’ 8. good: news, aaa
“It’s working. © a 7
‘The number: of overdose deaths: “e
‘on the: downtown’ eastside, once
as high:as: “147 a-year, has: ‘plumet-:
‘ted by-as. much as s, 60-70 Per cent,”
‘Owen. said. oof
What's: more, “the. hari ‘reduc:
“thon: approach ‘has’ actually. “got. >
7 people ‘offthe streets:
. &!Mancouver . ‘Coastal.
oy opened: up. North, America’s: first”
oY safe: injection ‘site.-in September
»,2003-,at-.139' East. Hastings. It’s
eee staffed: by” nurses - and counsellors
*. Who-can. steer the’ drug - user, to "
2 ‘health services. and. ‘support.
Owen, said it’s .a particularly’
good: place 'to. ‘briefly: ‘separate’
- young’ dtug-addicted prostitutes .

said,

‘Health
ion, plan:

THE RCMP’ officer who funs: the ‘province’ s-
- drug. awareness. section is surprised a orystal
meth lab’ has_ been found in Terrace.

. , ‘based | on. what. was" happening i in Europe ‘and in-

- all of aisudden: jump to: Teérrace, we: didn't’
“Sergeant Chuck ‘Doucette.
In town: to speak to studerits and. to. a ‘public :

. began. tracking crystal: meth after. it began: to.
“es gain in popularity.as a’ ‘party’ drug at raves:

combination, which dogs produce: a high. bul.
oo it's ’a high: “which. stifles: sexual. potency, said -
Lite v: Doucette. . . _ Per

& “PEOPLE. ‘SHOULD: not be. ‘con-..

-eerned.the, planned first court-date -

“>. @F those’ arrested in.. connection :
»-owith the discovery of a metham-" ’.
we ~ phetamine- ‘lab. bere is: several
7. months, away, Says av RCMP ‘offi-
a cer involved in the investigation: ~
"Corporal Mike . Tivers of the’ :

— Jocal detachment’s: drug. section.
-. gays:the’ June’25 court date-is to
“permit: ‘a lab. to: canalyze. all the -
chemicals afd: “equipment: seized.
“Vand to-allow: officers: to. eonipile. ay
“(thorough report, 0." aa
ot Once. officers have completed oo
it the, ‘tinforiiation | is-then...:
féderal ‘drug ‘prosecutor *
er. determines. the. exacl
nature of: charges, ‘he said, °
; “We have, a significant anfount

been laid-.

a “And. ‘he says the? 160° yathait was
“that block: of” East- “Hastings. has -
been. transformed, we :
It's: just. unbelievable,” ihe:
“There! ‘used’ to: be=
‘people’. ‘in> that" ‘block. “There! 8 :
~ maybe 10:now.? ee.
The: ‘graffiti: tha
-cleaiied up:"““It's ‘alli neat!
nd: ‘the lane. i:clear.”:
“Is vindication: for-2 a. man: whd 5%
“staked: his’ ‘political : career on ‘the ..”
belief. that, ‘there's. ‘@ more. humane:
way ‘to tréat addicts.: . Ce,
_As the” documentary. Fine The “
‘Stary. of an Addicted City. shows, 7
~.Qwen:+ and_a.team: of comniunity” .”
‘allies that included “hard-core. her--~
cin: addicts, - beat. ‘cops, ‘front-line.
‘outreach nurses-and. others = Was.
cable: to: ‘pet: council to. back his ace :

“o*But he ‘ltinately lost thie. ‘silp- a
"port of his own arly, ‘the’ NPA,
_ which: ousted him Prior. tor “the
: 2002 civic election, n ;
| Two: year :later, his influence:
has i ‘never-béen stronger. -- 00-0) °..
: Mayors” “across the; ‘Country. =.
aad across the’ border: ~ are invit- |

- “stasy becatise it. enables. “USETS. to Perforny Sex:

ao 2 ually, ‘he added, : ;

We ‘knew: it: was coming | to ‘Vancouver oo
_communities,”"

. the States: Onily-recently ithas been‘ hitting...

"Vancouver. to: any great degree: but: to, have’ it ©’

“12 hours: compared. to crack-cocaine whose. ef,

an almost immediate’ high that can last four too.

“think it would: happen so quickly," said Staff,

. meeting: after. a crystal: meth: lab’ was found. on:

' LazelleAve.:March.2,: Doucette said ‘officers * *..
*, ising’ ‘intravenous. drugs. such’ as ‘heroin,- it isi
“more socially acceptable: as people: ‘don't'use
“Raves | feature ; “ecstasy, another chemical: -
junkies, he noted.”

of. ‘evidence: ‘Seized and we-want
to’ make: sure:.we. have. everything 1
we neéd;” Tivers added, ae
‘The’ four arrested, -thtee men .
aid one. woman, have’ since been:
. released pending their’ court, date. ;
- They've - been: otdered not tor.
have’ any-cofitact. with’ one ‘another ~
‘and not to" be in- the: same place:
_ with one another -at. the same”
time: Names of those: -atrested will
“not be released. until charges have 2°

The: erystal eth: dab. “was
‘covered: Ina’ house of: ‘Lazelle
‘Ave, after it caught fire’ ‘March 2:
Firefighiters called in-police when
», they... fold: Blseware: “and:, lab “
“equipment, —
Arrests were.

- NDP MP Svend. Robinson:

screening of the documan-

drug reform,

municipal -

PHILIP OWEN speaks: with.

after answering’ questions « |
here following: a: March: 13")

tary Fix. Robinson: spurred .
the crowd to a ‘standing ova:
tion for Owen when he paid. -
tribute. to the: ex-Vancouver
mayor's work in praginalic’
“You. stuck.’
- your neck out: so: far ‘for!
. people,” Robinson. ‘said.
“You saved lives. | just want"
to thank you for your cour- ””
age and’ your leadership on: i
this issue." Tha .two. ‘politi-
. cians say they, are.united.on’ °
the issue ‘although’ they ~-
come trom opposite ends of
the political spectrum: Owen. < |?
was ousted by his ‘right-wing *
party -for*his
stand. The party lost the. |
mayoral race; which.’saw®.-.]

* left-wing mayor Lary Camp- oP °-
bell elected. Also. a réfor-
mer, Campbell is an: @X-COr- .
oner after whom. TV's: Da i
Vinel’s Inquest is is ‘based.

——— March 24, 2004 - AS

__GORRESPONDENCE FOR THE TERRACE STANDARD

_ The Mail a

Her guardian angel

‘Dear ‘Sirs: .

~ iuiman. experiences,’

- had ‘lodged in-my throat,

_. Onto the ‘street for help.-

“gentleman, was walking by. I Basped. out “choking ..
“can’Ubréathe... -heimlich.”)

‘toast flew from niy throat, I. could breathe.’:

slipped. away. unthanked,

; your kind face. I mention you in'my prayers:

: Arlene : Sheppard,
a “Tervace, B. C.

‘Healthy communications

S Dear Sir:

Re: “City. starts to: push. éatth | cate. “agenda,” in in

_ “ the March 17, 2004 i issue of The Terrace. Standard.

‘On Friday, March 12 I had ‘the Worst ind best: of -

getting ready. for: -work: at. ‘a : Jocal -festaurant, L 7
“prepared some dry toast to eat. Taking a single. bite; T°
‘ “realized upon® swallowing ‘that the. ‘mouthful’ of toast no

_. “Slowly I began to” die. 1 was. ‘housesittinig ‘and due’
to the: lack of oxygen to my brain, I was unable to- -
“péeall - nty exact address, Feeling” lightheaded: with. a
2 Spots. before my eyes, I. stumbled | ‘out the, ‘door and:

“God smiled on: me. that ‘day. An nkioin.

My ‘Good . Samaritan understood: and soggy ‘bits. of ;

_ My’ benefactor: took-me, ‘into the: house and: ‘called ©
a an ambulance. Th. ‘the: ensuing commotion, this. man’

: My -friend;-1 don’t, know your nanie, but I temember 7

: - That: day. you. were. my guardian angel on earth, thy
cen hometown hera, 0 ar
oa i This‘ is s my heartfelt thank you!

eee ee The ‘Northern Health: Authority ‘seeks ‘lo- clarify. :
\:4) aspects of Jeff Nagel’s story. regarding’ our. intentions -

; «to. develop stronger links: with local. governments.
-- Norther ' ‘Health is: working to. further ‘expand: its 2°

OE and First Nations: across: ‘the- region. ‘in: an attempt, to

a Tt" {urns aut: “as veaily as. 1995"
: “Owes was: swayed by Ree

wee on ‘drugs, ; 7
*°-“The facts-aré in: T “critics. “It
* drugs. has: been: a massive failure,”
“100... ‘Owen: ‘said, adding. he® ‘simply. ~ for. thew
- joined -the rising: tide of--voices’. “ta
~ who- questioned: the” conventional, *
visdom of: zero. tolerance. >
Owen, who, Spoke: at: a Screen
ing of Fix here- March :13;:was’
among the: iret Canadian ‘politi-” a
Owen said,”

The

ven: been i
Cand: “tidy

“munities across. the country. ..

is ‘The » facts are in. The. r
ar on drugs has: been ;
a massive 2 failure, ie ro

rte of the drug. action. plan.”
cians: to: ‘press “for. ‘change! “somes
‘thing. he’ did: “after. embarking: on.’
fact: finding, missions: to northern ‘s
- Europe: ° “
SAID we. ave “done” is ‘gore we
“around. the: world ‘and ‘copy, what. . most like to’ réach.’
everybody: else is doing,” he said. !
0 Everybody, ‘that. is, but the. U. s
i federal. government. ’ . :
- Owen ‘said the” ‘public As, well
+ ahead of the politicians’ on’ this «
i “The Public: are” saying the...

“year, but it'works."" i

“ment,

' Drug makers. then began. adding meth to ec.

-“We found. this.) to ‘be ‘popular: in the aay
‘said: ‘Doucette. . ee
Meith, especially. ‘when smoked, “brings - on.

fect: can last’ only = 15:to- 26 minutes, he said.” :
Meth’s: cost of ‘perhaps $15:-for-a ‘hit then’
imiakes ita. poplar. drag. of. choice,. Doucette:
continued.

_ Because. meth can ‘be ‘smoked. as s opposed lo

ette..

ing to the prevention side five years ago.-

needlés and so. don’ t. ‘consider. themselves as

- The’ ‘ultimate. key. to stifling meth use is spe: ”
“vention through: ‘education: “programs. outlining: “he lives. .

pine’: Flats “residence. March: Mh:
where, ‘police “alsa. found © more.
: chemicals, and “lab. equipment as...
well..as two. rifles: and a ‘stolen
snowmobile: St
“Tivers’ said: officers. are lavest.”
igating- -whether the chemicals and
“equipment. ‘found at, Jackpine. Flats
were taken from the: Laéelle-héme *
or whether’ they’ were.to-be: used ae 7
sel up another lab.” °°. ne
“He. emphasized. “information .
from the, public. assisted ih: making.
‘dis: _sdrrest§-and that-more information:.
s needed. “Without. the- public, "
e can’ t do our. job," 2 he said."

“imation ‘difficult, .

. uss” ‘said ‘Tivers.

srystal | meth lab: ‘discovery. «

mand for crystal meth:

countered. what he ‘called. as Meade:
Of: silence”: “among: young. ‘crystal
meth: “users, a circumslance . that t

tions in the: Rorthwest ore

ys arler. Jo
Vancouver’ s. safe. injection’ site
- “(the: 60th 4 in: the. world). is winning:
. over: some: of the -plan’s: harshest *.
; 's, just-made: things’ so.
“smuch, better down: heres especially *
men,” " ‘onle" ‘area resident:

ancouver:- “experiment” my
is being: ‘watched ‘closely. Its less | J
“. SOnis May ‘point the way- ‘for. com; i

“Terrace: can 1 be Part, of this oe

“His: prescription Jies in: “holding we
-@ommunity forums with -a’ wide:..J-
‘spectrum. of. people. = there: were»
: “more: than 60. in Vancouyer Jead-!) [--
.-ing-up-te the:final: implemeritation. A oe

““Just-have’ an: ‘intelligent dino: | a
“gue: "It. may’: stake -six months: to a”

Owen’s' message: didn't make’ “Pe
inroads with. the: audience he'd a

Largely “absent were. ‘polive,: ye
- doctors and-city’ council members ®
2 =who just days - earlier attended.
“an -ROMP-led » ‘drug - forum that. -
pushed’ prevention. and: enforce- ;

: Asjde:from his:professional: experience® with ‘
* narcoti¢s, the drug: industry. has: also. come...
-gJose:to home, ‘That occurred: when ‘a marijua-"
na grow up was: discovered on. the. stieet where. Te:

‘Arrested lab operators released for now .

oo With: riarijuana ‘or cocaine :
n> and older. users, We find. we can a
~ - more easily find people to talk to. .

He did note that property crime . fle
has ‘increased in the area in’ the ‘-
‘several montlis. leading - up. to. ‘the: :

“'Tivers: said it ‘is: hard for offic, :
cers. ‘to’ determine ‘if the lab-was “J.
set Up to: feed an ‘existing local. |”
- demand: or. io ¢reale-a’ Moca de: :

And he said it is: possible. that a
tystal“ meth, being “made at - thé’ »-
‘Lazelle” Ave. ‘home “was.. being

transported for sale. to other Oca. = :

e ‘liaison. with: Northern. Health..-

° Northern Health: staff directly. In. other circlimstancés,
“'acommittee. of council: is - the: ‘preferred ‘point ‘of
“contact. for-health staff. -

= the region, °

“+. We.intend ‘to better. formalize’ out communications
“links” “with ocal:: -govertiments | rand . important:
= stakeholder j groups: in the way ‘they'd most prefer fl
‘Individuals. ‘or: groups . with . questions: and/or

Her, office i is located at Mills Memorial Hospital:

“The Northern’ Health: Authority,
wow! Prince: Rupert, B. C.

It's much. better to work —

7 Re: “Timber? Take Back Worries City" in “the
March 17, 2004 issue of The Terrace Standard.

The. ‘provincial government $ plan’ to “provide
compensation : to:logging. contractors, such as George.

‘great. benefit, to. these. contractors,

- dollars to. these’ ‘contractors: who have: invested ‘their

| lives and. moriey. into ‘the ‘northwest and: then ‘have
them sit largely idle." As Stated they. ‘get Some money, © ..
: their: workers. stay ‘home. and. in ‘the: end NO. one a

“benefits.”

‘Having: large: gontiactors: “like Beat
“how ‘we Will créate wealth’ and ecoriomic stability i in

them: ‘money to have their: equipment: and men sit idle,
‘The few million in: their pockets “as. compensation

‘generate. in the northwest.

what they. have’ “done” but at, the end-of the day the

~ the forests of” the northwest’:

“We nieed the. forests ‘to. be, working forests, We
need’ contractors .working, not’ being: compensated for
having: the livelihood of: their: ‘companies and their
employees, bein,

Coun, City, of Terrace,

“About| the Mail Bag
- "The: Terrace” ‘Standard’ welcomes - letters. Our
; address’ js.3210 Clinton St, Terrace, B.C. V8G

-atlachments,”. please: We-need: your. name,

. deadline is noon. Friday or noon mn Thursclay-| tt Ws a
“ong: weekend. - te

‘|e better , communicate. with. these: important groups. As
‘part of that, we ‘will soon: ask municipal councils and |
‘other-groups ’ “whom they wish to, 0, have as their Primary .

In:some ‘cases, ‘city, councils. wish - to: hear. from

q We! It-be: asking. local. ‘governments and: other”
 proups” ‘what | their - ‘preferences: ‘ares, §O6.we can best ©.
“meet their, needs. . ‘Given: that.) “Many. ‘municipalities: 7

have. council health ‘committees: ‘working ‘effectively
‘Poin: ‘conjunction with. Northern Health, we wanted to -
- extend. this opportunity to other. communities. around 7

We ,would:: like: to address the: conceriis atttibtied ws,
: to. city councillor David: Hull. that. Northern’ Health’.
- wishes municipalities. to be. the ‘first: point of contact.
.- for: groups. with, héalth. “policy” concefns, and.that-we.
4: are-off- loading : ‘our: important responsibility’ to hear. .
1° from the public:. Clearly; that is not our: approach, »

‘concerns. about: specific health: issues are- always : -
‘welcome: to get in-touch with’ ‘Northern: Health's staff.
.. The focal health: administrator for Terrace is Lorna
Ferrari, an “experienced. healthcare leader’who's - .
always willing to’ answer questions: from the public. ae

: Suzanne: ‘Johnston, “
- Chief Operating | Officer, . ~

The, quotes’ attributed to ‘me, if, this article, though
‘accurate, were not” presenied:i ‘in their full context:and: .~
‘Te as such, my position on‘ ‘this issue has been portrayed |
: incorrectly.

- Spread of meth no surprise: RCMP.

- Munson and ‘Bear. Creek: Contacting. and..Alm Wood _

“the effects of drug’ use: ‘on: health and with pro- : : Contracting for loss of cut, in. my. Opinion, is “of no . -

grams: such as DARE. which. build on making a ie
, drug. use socially: unacceptable, ‘said. Doucette.
‘He ‘said. governments let. slide .preverition”.
_ programs. in. the: 1990s and: have only, recently -.
*. begun to put more money into prévenlion’ 0:
“When: T started: {in drug ‘awarénéss] there...
were just. two. of. us. Now theré-are:20 and ‘we- | -
"now have: 300: DARE Ipolice}" officers ‘trained -.[*
“in. the: province: and it.is Browing,”. ‘said’ ‘Douc-"*.

There’ is no advantage’ to- giving. a ‘few. ‘million :

‘Creek :
Contracting and Alm. Wood: Contracting: working: is -

& folice. officer: ‘tor. 32. years, Doucette . = the. ‘northwest. ‘Not by: having. ithe ‘government: paying.

- spent Ihany: years, in. ‘drug’ enforcement, ‘swilch- 4
a will, pale in ‘compétrison to what they could eafn.over. . -

| years of. working and’ is*a. minute drop in the- bucket ;

compared - tothe: economic” “wealth: they. gould ae

- The. government. is: great at: t talking’ policy,’ listing.
only -theasuré. that counts is.the* number of people |
..Working anid the economic. wealth: being’ produced by.
for -all’: British -

. “Columbians. Any else” is Just ‘political bafflegab and .
: hots air. ‘i -

‘scuttled- by Poorly iinplemented

“David D. ‘Hull,

“Terrace, B.C. te

“-5R2. You can fax’us’ at 250-638-8492 -or e-mail
us’ at'nawsroom@terracestandard,com, No. .

addréss -and: phone. number for. vérification. Our