The Conservative government's $64M National Anti-Drug Strategy
Stephen Harper describes "What we're up against."
"What we are all up against, in trying to resolve this problem, what the police are up against, those who deal in treatment and prevention are up against, is a culture that since the 1960's has, at the minimum not encouraged drug use and often romanticized it, romanticized it or made it "cool," made it acceptable.
And look, as a father I'd don't say all these things blamelessly, you know I, my son is listening to my Beatles records and asking me what all these lyrics mean. And, uh, you know, it's just there. I love these records and I'm not putting them away. But that said the reality is there has been a culture that has not fought drug use. And that's what we're all up against."
– Stephen Harper
Health Minister Tony Clement
talks about Conservative drug strategy
The Conservative Government Anti-drug Strategy News Articles
Expanding prisons won't cut crime, group says Advocacy group says U.S. 'experiment' show tougher sentencing doesn't reduce crime
May 08, 2008
"Growing the prison population does not reduce crime. It may increase crime. Growing the prison population is the most expensive way to lower the rate of crime and in any event the crime rate has been in decline for 25 years," Craig Jones, executive director of the John Howard Society of Canada, told the Toronto Star."
On Feb. 1, [Susan] Boyd, along with the Beyond Prohibition Coalition of Vancouver, launched a website at EducatingHarper.com to inform the prime minister and concerned Canadian citizens about drug policy and harm reduction.
At the same time, she began a letter-writing campaign. Each week she heads to the post office with a letter and an accompanying article, pays for postage and sends it off to the Prime Minister's Office.
The drug researcher, on sabbatical this year, says she was outraged by the federal government's crime bill C-26, which cracks down on drug traffickers -- and adds mandatory minimum sentences for growing marijuana -- as well as budget funding increases for police enforcement with only nominal amounts for harm reduction and treatment. More...
See also: Government of Canada website - National Anti-Drug Strategy: Video Centre
Toronto police chief
William Blair
PM Stephen Harper said: "More and more young people are being charged in drug related crimes."
Yes, that's true. Here's why:
"Police forces across the GTA, taking their cue from the new federal Conservative government, are again cracking down on the simple possession of marijuana."
Audio Interview with Jerry Paradis Listen to audio interview
(*the interview with Jerry Paradis is the first segment of this show)
Program: Century of Lies
Date: 12/04/07
Guest: Jerry Paradis
Organization: LEAP.cc
PM Stephen Harper said: "The fact is illegal drug production and distribution is a highly lucrative business.
A business ruthlessly exploited by large, powerful criminal organizations."
Yes, that's true. Here's why:
Prohibition establishes a black market, he said, and “keeps prices artificially high ... attracting organized crime.”
Paradis argued prohibition betrays the role government seeks to play – the protector of public health – by driving drug use and abuse underground, contributing to death, illness and the spread of disease.
“It is also a serious and unnecessary drain on the resources of police, prosecutors, courts and corrections,” said Paradis.
“Ending prohibition is not giving up. It is nothing to do with admitting defeat. It is nothing more than recognition that a policy adopted almost a century ago for all the wrong reasons does not only fail to yield any results, it has created unintended consequences. It endangers our children far more than the drugs do.”
The Senate Special Committee's report is available online: www.SenateReport.ca
PM Stephen Harper said: "Obviously we want to put organized crime out of business. And tough new anti-drug laws have to be part of the solution."
No, that's not true. Here's why:
"The continued prohibition of cannabis jeopardizes the health and well-being of Canadians much more than does the substance itself."
Source: The Report of the Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs, 2002: "Cannabis: Our Position for a Canadian Public Policy" (Summary Report - P. 45)
"Clearly, current approaches are ineffective and inefficient. Ultimately, their effect amounts to throwing taxpayers' money down the drain in a crusade that is not warranted by the danger posed by the substance. It has been maintained that drugs, including cannabis, are not dangerous because they are illegal but rather are illegal because they are dangerous. This is perhaps true of other types of drugs, but not of cannabis."
Source: The Report of the Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs, 2002: "Cannabis: Our Position for a Canadian Public Policy" (Summary Report - P. 38)
How does cannabis compare to other drugs, including legal drugs alcohol and nicotine? Find out now.
PM Stephen Harper said: "Our message is clear: drugs are dangerous and destructive."
Yes, some drugs can be destructive, but which ones?
"Scientific evidence overwhelmingly indicates that cannabis is substantially less harmful than alcohol and should be treated not as a criminal issue but as a social and public health issue."
- Senator Pierre Claude Nolin, Chair of the Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs, during the press conference for the release of the committee's report.
Bill C-51
OTTAWA - Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced the Food and Consumer Safety Action Plan, a comprehensive set of proposed new measures that will make Canadians safer by legislating tougher federal government regulation of food, health, and consumer products.
Speaking at the Salvation Army Christmas Toy Depot in Ottawa, Prime Minister Harper noted that there has been a sharp rise in the number of product recalls involving unsafe toys, food and drugs in recent years. "Canadians rightly expect their federal government to police the safety of the products they bring into their homes," the Prime Minister said. "Today, I'm pleased to announce a plan that will significantly enhance our ability to do just that." Read more...
C-245 An Act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act Jay Hill (Prince George--Peace River)
(RE: trafficking in a controlled substance within five hundred metres of an elementary school or a high school)
C-320 An Act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act Rob Merrifield (Yellowhead)
(RE: minimum sentence)
C-428 An Act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act Chris Warkentin (Peace River)
(RE: methamphetamine)
Crime statistics 1962 - 2006
Canada's overall national crime rate, based on incidents reported to police,
hit its lowest point in over 25 years in 2006, driven by a decline in non-violent crime.
Politicians who support prohibition are supporting organized crime
Cannabis prohibition is expensive, ineffective, and causing significant harms to Canadian society.
For the good of ALL Canadians, it's time to end cannabis prohibition.
View video
OTTAWA - Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced the 
