For an announcement on the efforts to combat the illegal use of drugs through the National Anti-Drug Strategy

Remarks by the
Honourable Stockwell Day
Minister of Public Safety

Regina, Saskatchewan
March 14, 2008
As Delivered

Thank you Tom [Tom Lukiwski, MP, Regina-Lumsden-Lake Centre] for your warm welcome. It's always a joy for me to be in Saskatchewan and especially in Regina. It's always exciting to see what's happening here at the RCMP with regards to federal and contract policing across the country.

I want to make an announcement today and talk about our National Anti-Drug Strategy. This particular strategy was discussed in the Speech from the Throne. It's a commitment that we made from the Prime Minister right through all areas of our Government. We strongly believe that the foremost responsibility of any level of government is the safety and the security of its citizens, and we are committed to building safer streets and safer communities. We do a lot at the federal level to make sure this responsibility is upheld.

Since we took office about two years ago, we've made a commitment to support the hiring of one thousand federal RCMP personnel across the country, and we have already set aside $161 million for that. We are also improving border security through increased spending and hiring of personnel. We've also made changes in legislation to send a message to individuals thinking about hurting our citizens, communities and economy with illegal drugs. We are showing them that we are intent on making our streets, our communities safe and secure.

Some great things have been going on right here in Regina. We have two of the most outspoken members of Parliament, Tom Lukiwski and Andrew Scheer [MP, Regina-Qu'Appelle], who have fought for safer communities and criminal justice reform. Their work has been instrumental to a very significant investment that we announced a few months ago- the development of a criminal research facility, the Canadian Police Research Centre, right here in Regina. This is just one of a number of initiatives that they have spearheaded that are important to the area, and to the entire province.

When we announced the National Anti-Drug Strategy, we wanted to send some clear messages regarding the $64 million initiative. While there is also need for enforcement, two thirds of our commitment is directed towards prevention, education and treatment pertaining to drug use and drug activity.

About a third of the funds are going towards enforcement. We believe very strongly that there needed to be a shift in the enforcement approach. For too many years we had what appeared to citizens as a very strong emphasis on the rights of those who break the law. Every person in Canada has rights, even those who break the law. But the rights of law breakers seemed to be the continual focus, and our citizens wanted an indication that we were also focused on the rights of those who abide by the law, and those who are victims of law breakers. That is where our policy has seen a noticeable shift.

The portion of the National Anti-Drug Strategy set aside for community funding will be used to help local groups raise awareness and reach out to vulnerable families and young people at risk. That has been a very important area of focus, along with the treatment of those involved with drugs and substance abuse.

We want to emphasize that we are taking steps to enhance our commitment to enforcement. For example, we took a look at the current laws and we've made some very aggressive moves and successfully passed a Bill tackling violent crime.

When we talk about drugs in our communities, any drug problem, small or large, is significant. We often hear about someone being just a small dealer. But a small dealer is just somebody who wants to become a bigger dealer. There are individuals who care so little about the lives of young people and others in our community that they would actually manufacture illicit drugs such as methamphetamine, which is very addictive and unfortunately relatively cheap to produce. We want to send a clear message to these individuals that there is zero tolerance from the Government and from the people of Canada for such activities. The destructive effect of these drugs on individual lives and our communities is something that cannot be neglected and has to be taken seriously.

That's why today I'm pleased to announce as a part of our National Anti-Drug Strategy, an $8.9 million investment to the RCMP to assist them in the pursuit, investigation and conviction of individuals involved in the production of harmful drugs. We also have a message to those who are involved in drugs and are dependent on illicit drugs. We want to let those individuals know that there is treatment available and there are people in the community that care for them.

And to those who are manufacturing, producing and distributing illicit drugs, the message is that we will find them. The RCMP and other police forces will perform the investigation, the offenders will be tracked down, and they will be brought to justice. These criminals will face mandatory jail terms for manufacturing these drugs that destroy the lives of so many people in our communities.

I know that the RCMP, with this particular initiative, will be able to continue the good work they're already doing- the difficult and challenging work of keeping our communities safe, especially from drug activity.

So I'm very pleased today to make this announcement. I want to thank my colleagues for being at the forefront of our fight against criminal activity, and are helping to care for those at risk.

I want to thank the members of the RCMP who are here representing the men and women across this country who are on the front lines every day and night doing what has to be done to keep our communities safe, often at a high risk to themselves. We appreciate your dedication and service. I look forward to seeing the National Anti-Drug Strategy move ahead and have a positive impact on our communities by helping provide the safety and security that our citizens expect.

Thanks very much for being here today and thank you again to the RCMP personnel who make safer communities a reality.