Pubdate: Sat, 02 Dec 2000
Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2000, Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact:  380 Hunt Club Rd., Ottawa, Ontario, K1G 5H7
Website: http://www.canoe.ca/OttawaSun/
Forum: http://www.canoe.ca/Chat/home.html
Author: James Wallace

PUTTING THE PEE IN PROTEST

Toronto -- Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty wants to flood Mike Harris' office
with "pee-mail."

McGuinty began an e-mail protest campaign yesterday on his party's website
to ridicule the Tory government's plan to start testing welfare clients
suspected of drug use.

"Let's send Mike Harris a pee-mail telling him he should provide the first
urine sample," he said.

Under the plan, any welfare client may be forced to submit urine samples to
the government for drug testing or risk having benefits cut.

PLAN 'DISCRIMINATES'

Anyone who fails and refuses treatment will also have their benefits cut.

McGuinty said the plan discriminates against people on welfare and likely
violates both Canada's Constitution and the province's Human Rights Code.
"The fact is that people on welfare are no more likely to suffer from drug
addiction than the rest of the population," he said.

McGuinty also mocked the initiative this week by introducing a private
member's bill that would force MPPs to submit urine samples for testing.

Web surfers can log on to www.ontarioliberal.com and find links to the
Liberal goose, who will send Harris a "What's Good For the Goose Is Good For
The Gander" e-mail. "I want people to understand how mean-spirited it is to
demand that only one group in society that receives government cheques
provide urine samples in exchange for their benefits," McGuinty said.
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MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk