B.C. New Democrats say Solicitor General John Les's "tough talk" for the new Conservative government on battling the crystal meth problem rings hollow when compared to the provincial government's underfunding of solutions here. "This deadly epidemic is devastating families in British Columbia," NDP public safety critic Jagrup Brar says in a news release. "I am calling on the Campbell Liberals and the Solicitor General to stop talking tough, and take action to properly address the deadly drug, and break the addiction cycle. [continues 288 words]
The BC Hydroponic Merchants Association will go to court if necessary to stop a proposed Chilliwack bylaw that aims to regulate the sale of hydroponic equipment and drug paraphernalia, says legal counsel for the association. "Our instructions are to fight this bylaw right to the Supreme Court of Canada, if necessary," lawyer Jonathan Baker said yesterday. He said the association has put Chilliwack city officials on notice that it will defend legitimate hydroponic merchants at a public hearing Monday night when the proposed bylaw is expected to return for council approval. [continues 377 words]
Grape-flavoured rolling papers for sale in your business display case? Well, chances are you'll have to obtain a $1,000 licence to keep on selling them, if a proposed bylaw to regulate hydroponics and drug paraphernalia is passed by Chillwack's city council. It's the "obvious stuff" used to consume or create illegal drugs that city council wants to curtail through the bylaw, says Councillor Chuck Stam, co-chair of the city's public safety advisory committee, not items like cigarette rolling papers. [continues 333 words]
Installing security cameras downtown is one of the bold new crime-fighting ideas under discussion by a group of merchants who have joined with municipal and police officials to tackle the growing problem. Gerald Thiessen, owner of the Wellington Avenue store Hobbies 4U was one of a handful of downtown merchants who attended last week's meeting between the mayor, RCMP and members of the Downtown Chilliwack Business Improvement Association. The meeting was called after several merchants on Wellington Avenue and Mill Street reported increased instances of vandalism and break-ins in recent months. [continues 567 words]
A Conservative government would get tough on crime by imprisoning criminals longer, hiring more police, cracking down on gun offences, and raising the age for sexual consent. Tory Leader Stephen Harper unveiled the party platform in Toronto, near the scene of the Boxing Day shootings that killed 15-year-old Jane Creba, an innocent bystander. "We should be able to walk freely on our streets. We should feel safe in our neighbourhoods. We should live without fear in our cities," Harper said. [continues 299 words]
I was forced to sit in on a lecture about crystal meth the other day. An instructor of one of my psychology courses thought it would be a good idea to make attendance at this lecture mandatory. This isn't my problem. We learned all about meth. We learned how to make it, who uses it, how to use it, and even how much money is made in the industry. Instead of deterring people from anything and everything meth, the lecture seemed like a perfect advertisement for getting into the drug trade. [continues 577 words]
Conquering the ever-rising crystal meth problem can't be done alone. Individuals can't do it on their own. The First Nations communities can't do it on their own. And single municipalities can't do it alone either. That's why Sto:Lo is hosting a second crystal meth forum on Dec. 7. The forum is meant to further educate the public; to encourage more participation from communities in the Yale to Fort Langley regions; and to attract more senior leadership from groups such as the Fraser Health Authority and the Fraser Valley Regional District. [continues 239 words]
B.C.'s concerns about crystal meth production, the release of repeat sex offenders, gang violence and conditional sentences for violent crimes is now part of a national action plan aimed at restoring confidence in the justice system, B.C. Solicitor General John Les announced last week. "British Columbians are tired of opening up their newspapers and feeling that justice is not being done," Les said in a news release. "When people feel that they're not being adequately protected from criminals, whether as a result of inappropriate sentencing or insufficient laws, we have a duty to act." [continues 232 words]
Re: 'tent city,' Progress, Oct. 18. I find it commendable that the Chilliwack Vedder River Cleanup Coalition undertook the task of this cleanup. However, where the coalition saw garbage, I saw the meager possessions of the homeless and drug-addicted. Where city councillor Mark Anderson saw a 'home for criminals,' I saw only the home of the drug addicted doing anything and everything to get their next fix of drugs. I don't believe anyone wakes up in the morning and decides to be a criminal when they grow up. This criminal activity is the last curve on the drug addicted road. The need for crystal meth (or indeed any drug) far outweighs any sense of conscience. The need is far too powerful. [continues 122 words]
Three years ago Carla Meyer was a bright 16-year-old. She had good grades, a loving family, and high hopes for the future. But the social lure of crystal meth shattered it all. Now, just nine days before her 19th birthday, her legs are covered in red, circular scars. The left side of her lips still have the remnants of burn marks. And her dark eyes clearly show a girl who's seen and been through experiences well beyond her young years. [continues 733 words]
A public forum in Chilliwack this week underlined the importance of a co-ordinated, community-based attack on the growing menace of crystal meth. More than 800 people turned out to hear a number of speakers, including a 30-year-old recovering meth addict, who challenged the audience and organizers to take action. The forum was an important step in the fight against meth, an inspiration to other communities to take up the cause. The plain truth is that crystal meth kills. The statistics tell the story. Over the past four years, meth-related deaths in B.C. have increased tenfold, while the lives of countless other users have been permanently destroyed. [continues 426 words]
Block Watch has no business busting illegal marijuana grow operations under the recently-announced Grow Watch program, says a Block Watch volunteer in Chilliwack. "We're taking away a responsibility of the RCMP and handing it over to community members," says Rose Smith, and that move "could put citizens in harm's way" if criminal elements in a neighbourhood believe the volunteers are acting as "spies" for the police. "It's a spy network," agrees B.C. Civil Liberties policy director Micheal Vonn. "(Chilliwack officials) are trying to set up what looks like a surveillance society, which works best when citizens spy on each other." [continues 488 words]
More than 700 people gave a standing ovation to crystal meth survivor Sheena Edwards after an emotionally charged speech about the dangers of the drug at a forum hosted by the city Tuesday. The size of the crowd and the "overwhelming" response to Edwards' story has convinced forum organizers they have "hit a nerve" in the community, similar to the wave of public anger that erupted several years ago around mail theft. But what to actually do now, and what steps are needed to meet the apparent community desire to fight methamphetamine abuse, will be the topic of future public meetings. [continues 549 words]
The explosion of crystal methamphetamine use in B.C. was met with a package of measures including an additional $7-million in funding, Premier Gordon Campbell announced Friday. B.C. Solicitor General John Les could not release details of the premier's announcement at a meeting of Chilliwack B.C. Liberal party members held last Tuesday. But Les now says there is a "clear linkage" between mental health and addiction, and the B.C. government is now spending more than $1-billion annually on mental health and addiction services. [continues 457 words]
Chilliwack's forum on crystal methamphetamine awareness starts Tuesday at the Evergreen Hall, days after the B.C. government announced a $2-million fund for community awareness campaigns. City Councillor Sharon Gaetz says the funding announcement was "heartening," but "we weren't looking for the government to help us out with this" forum. "I am looking forward to hearing from John Les and what he's going to bring to the table as solicitor general," she adds. Les is one of the forum's panel members that include Dr. Johan Wouterloot, a family physician specializing in addictions treatment, RCMP Const. Scott Rintoul from the RCMP's Drug Awareness Unit, RCMP Sgt. Mike McCarthy from the Chilliwack detachment and Jim Skinner, alternate education principal at the Chilliwack school district. [continues 100 words]
Premier Gordon Campbell brought his chequebook to the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention Thursday, announcing $7 million in new funds to combat crystal meth addiction, and a boost to provincial grants for small rural communities. Calling meth a "dirty, filthy drug" that permanently wrecks people's lives and health, Campbell told a capacity crowd of civic politicians that $2 million of the money will go directly to municipalities to support their own programs, patterned after successful initiatives like the "meth-kickers" program in Kamloops. Another $1 million is to fund an awareness program in schools, and $3 million will be spent on TV and other advertising to get the warning message out about the dangers of the drug. [continues 322 words]
Proceeds of crime legislation is "coming soon to a provincial government near you," B.C. Solicitor General John Les told a joint annual general meeting of B.C. Liberal riding associations Tuesday. He said the legislation, "which will enable us to seize the assets of people who have gained those assets through criminal activity," could be tabled as early as next week. "The onus will be on the person whose assets we're going after to prove those assets were not gained through criminal activity," he said about the legislation. [continues 174 words]
Chilliwack has joined a growing number of communities in taking an aggressive stand against the incursion of methamphetamine. It's a prudent and proactive and approach that the community should get behind. Methamphetamine, or crystal meth, is an insidious drug that ruins lives, devastates families and decimates neighbourhoods. City officials want the community to know how dangerous the drug is and what it can do to prevent its proliferation. The city has organized a public forum for Oct. 11. And anyone with children, or who is concerned about the community, should attend. [continues 256 words]
As a new resident to Chilliwack I have found out what business Chilliwack is open to. Crime, drug dealing and prostitution. Is this really something to be proud of, or is the city going to clamp down on this? Fine that there are some grow ops being busted, but lets get with it downtown where the real bad element has taken over and from talking to people, the elderly and disabled don't feel safe walking the streets. Lars Olsen [end]
Getting relevant information out to the community on crystal meth is key in the fight against the street drug, says Chilliwack Mayor Clint Hames. The city and RCMP are joining forces to host a Crystal Meth Awareness Forum on Oct. 11 at Evergreen Hall. "The impact of crystal meth production and addiction on our community cannot be overstated," says Mayor Hames. "We hope by taking an active approach, we can help raise awareness about this issue and encourage our citizens to get involved in prevention." [continues 91 words]
