News Release

Date: March 14, 2008

For immediate release

Government of Canada moves to bolster drug enforcement efforts

REGINA, March 14, 2008 — The Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety, today took another step toward strengthening the RCMP’s drug enforcement and Proceeds of Crime Teams and their ability to detect, investigate, disrupt and dismantle criminal organizations involved in the production and distribution of illicit drugs.

“This Government recognizes that illicit drugs undermine healthy families and safe communities, fuel organized crime and foster petty crime. We are investing $8.9 million over two years to help the RCMP and its partners target illegal drug producers, such as grow ops and meth labs, and make our communities safer,” said Minister Day.

“Drugs are one of the main criminal activities undertaken by organized crime and these criminal groups target all segments of society,” said Raf Souccar, Assistant Commissioner of RCMP Federal and International Operations. “Investments in drug enforcement are one of the keys in helping reduce the devastating impact that drugs have in our communities. The National Anti Drug Strategy will bolster drug enforcement teams across Canada enabling them to target the organized crime groups behind the production and distribution of these dangerous drugs. The recognition of the importance of prevention and treatment is also crucial to the success of this strategy.”

On October 4, 2007, Prime Minister Harper announced the Government of Canada’s National Anti-Drug Strategy. This Strategy provides a focused approach involving three action plans to reduce the supply of, and demand for, illegal drugs, as well as addressing the crime associated with illegal drugs. This new approach will lead to safer and healthier communities by taking action in the three priority areas of prevention, treatment and enforcement.

Under the Enforcement Action Plan, Canada’s National Anti-Drug Strategy aims to bolster law enforcement efforts and capacity to effectively combat marijuana grow operations as well as synthetic drug production and distribution operations.

Today’s announcement builds on other initiatives already announced through the National Anti-Drug Strategy. For example, this Government has:

• Invested $3.3 million over two years to the CBSA to keep illegal drugs from crossing Canada’s borders;
• Brought forward legislation to introduce mandatory jail time for people who produce and sell illegal drugs;
• Invested $7 million for communities across Canada through the Drug Strategy Community Fund, to address the challenge of drug use among our youth; and,
• Provided $10 million over the next two years to implement a national prevention campaign aimed at youth and their parents.

For more information, please visit the website www.tacklingcrime.gc.ca.

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Information:

• Media Relations
  Public Safety Canada
  613-991-0657
  
  
• Mélisa Leclerc
  Director of Communications
  Office of the Honourable Stockwell Day
  Minister of Public Safety
  613-991-2863