Pubdate: Sun, 08 May 2005
Source: Winnipeg Sun (CN MB)
Copyright: 2005 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact:  http://www.winnipegsun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/503
Author: Frank Landry, Legislature Reporter
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

NEW TOOLS FOR FIGHTING METH

Working Together To Battle Scourge

Manitoba Justice Minister Gord Mackintosh says he wants in on a pilot 
project that would give cops new tools to literally sniff out meth labs.

"If there's any developed technology that can be useful for police here, I 
think it's our duty to try to find out more about it," Mackintosh told The Sun.

Mackintosh's comments came after learning Alberta is reportedly working 
with Ottawa on a jointly funded pilot project to use technology that would 
detect crystal methamphetamine labs by scent.

Final Approval

The program is pending final approval and proof the mystery technology works.

Mackintosh wrote a letter this week to Public Safety Minister Anne McLellan 
asking if Manitoba cops could also get in on the project.

"We want to hear more about this technology -- how it works and how it's 
deployed," Mackintosh said.

Lia Quickert, spokeswomen for McLellan, said it was Alberta that approached 
the minister about the meth-busting scheme.

"It's very preliminary right now," Quickert said. "Basically our department 
is going to follow up with Alberta at the moment."

Production of methamphetamine is notoriously dangerous, but also 
dangerously simple. The drug can be produced in massive superlabs, or in 
portable labs that can be set up in a vehicle.

The drug is known to be cheap and more addictive than crack or cocaine.

Alberta Solicitor General Harvey Cenaiko said he can't describe the 
technology because it hasn't been fully explained to him.

Alberta Education Minister Gene Zwozdesky also cautioned that the skin and 
scent-based test he's eyeing must still be proven to him on cost and 
accuracy grounds. But, he said, "it's quite phenomenal."

Manitoba Tory justice critic Kelvin Goertzen said he would support any new 
technology that would help shut down meth operations. He urged Mackintosh 
to act quickly on this one.

"If we have to do it on our own until we sort things out with Ottawa, let's 
get it done," Goertzen said.
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MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman