Pubdate: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC) Copyright: 2009 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: Kim Bolan, Staff Writer SENATE DELAY ON DRUG BILL RISKS LIVES: JUSTICE MINISTER Bill C-15, Which Legislates Mandatory Jail Terms For Dealers And Producers, Reached Senate In June Federal Justice Minister Rob Nicholson slammed the Senate Wednesday for not pushing through new legislation implementing mandatory jail terms for drug producers, smugglers and traffickers. Nicholson toured a mock Vancouver marijuana-growing operation with police and firefighters at his side before telling reporters that the holdup in passing Bill C-15 was risking the lives of Canadians. "Drug labs and grow-ops are a sign of gangs and organized crime activity and their presence threatens the safety of B.C. neighbourhoods and in particular our children," Nicholson said. "They also lead to more crime and gang violence on our streets and more risk to law enforcement officers as organized criminals fight to establish and protect their turf." He said the bill would deter those willing to set up clandestine labs and growing operations. "I have been calling on Michael Ignatieff to do something this summer about the holdup we have in the Canadian Senate," Nicholson said. "I had a hard enough time getting that bill through the House of Commons, and then when it got to the Senate at the beginning of June, we found it impossible to even get them to debate it." He said he had briefings with Vancouver police and fire department officials about the gang problem and the resulting labs and growing operations that officers have to dismantle. "It is fraught with dangers. There are many, many safety concerns," Nicholson said. "C-15 imposes mandatory jail terms for drug producers and traffickers who target our children. We take aim at those who import-export drugs, people in the grow-op business, people who produce methamphetamines, heroin, other drugs. We send out the correct message to them, that if you get involved in this kind of activity, you are going to jail." Nicholson said there is ample evidence that marijuana is the currency of organized crime and that much of the market for Canadian pot is foreign. Acting deputy fire chief Tim Armstrong said the number of clandestine labs is on the rise in Vancouver. "We are seeing these laboratories in high-rise apartment buildings downtown, in three-storey walk-up buildings, residential homes. They are really popping up anywhere," he said. Vancouver police Insp. Brad Desmarais, head of the gang squad, said the labs and marijuana operations "are profit-making businesses." "They represent often a significant profit line for organized crime," Desmarais said. He said police find children and families in the homes used for such operations at least 30 per cent of the time. "We are focused in reducing the impact, reducing the profitably of these operations, as well as ensuring the public safety is taken care of." - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr