Party's Over-Tories (Conservatives) Plan Anti-Drug Crackdown.

Party is over, but who could blame him?




Federal Health Minister Tony Clement says, (Tories' drug strategies) the Harper government will soon unveil a $64 million drug strategy. It will involve increased criminal penalties, prevention and treatment programs and a crackdown on smuggling.

Lest everyone forgets, the proposal by the previous government of the Liberals to decriminalize use of Cannabis and possession of small amount had not been enacted and passed as law and the current Conservative Government of PM Harper decided to shelve it.

During an Interview after the a symposium designed to bring together Canada’s arts and health communities to combat mental health issues yesterday (Saturday), Health Minister Tony Clement announced the Party is Over and the Government in a few days will be in business of Anti-drug strategy.

Reported increases in arrests for possession and use of marijuana in major cities such as Toronto, Vancouver, Halifax and Ottawa, was due to many young people under the impression that the Bill decriminalizing the use of Cannabis had been passed and many boldly use cannabis than ever before..

The Conservatives’ wide-ranging $64 million anti-drug strategy is expected to combine treatment and prevention programs with stiffer penalties for illicit drug use, and a crackdown at the border against drug smuggling.

Health Minister Clement in the past, opposes the harm reduction strategies which includes among others where governments provide safe injection sites for drug addicts where nurses supervise and provide clean needles to users to avoid spreading the disease such as AIDs and Hepatitis.

At a Canadian Medical Association meeting last month, he was quoted saying “harm reduction, in a sense, takes many forms. To me, prevention is harm reduction. Treatment is harm reduction. Enforcement is harm reduction.

A day after that speech, 130 physicians and scientists signed a petition condemning the Conservative Government “potentially deadly” misrepresentations of the positive evidence of harm reduction programs.

Dr. Keith Martin, a B.C. Liberal MP and former substance abuse physician, said that the renewal for safe injection sites operating license will not get approval from the current government. And he has this to say about the Tories anti-drug strategies:

“I can’t understand why the Conservatives are embracing a war-on-drugs approach that has proven to fail. By all means, go after the pushers. By all means, absolutely go after the organized crime gangs that are the real parasites in this situation. “But for heaven’s sake, treat the user as a medical problem and adopt the solutions that have proven to work in other countries.”

My Say:
Well, the former Liberal Government strategies of Fighting Drugs, its use and possession had not succeeded. I would give this Government a Crack at doing their plans and see if it will succeed where all others had failed. Drugs addiction has not only contributing to increase in criminal activities, but also cost society in term of more Health Care spending and also the interruptions of family lives and the economic loss is also huge.

Take a look at how many Grow-ops discovered by the Law in the Toronto area during 2006. Check this..map and see why a new Anti-Drug strategies are needed...


A very Important Reminder to those who drive with a lead foot and say "ain't too drunk to drive tonight, darling". The New Street Racing Law takes effect Midnight tonight (Sept. 30, 2007) and the OPP (Ontario Provincial Police) warms that this will be 'shock and awe' to those that have the inclinations to do following things.

>>go over the limit at more than 50 kms, car will be impounded on the spot and license suspended for one week immediately (pending resolution of the charges) and minimum fine of $2000.
and a few other stunts that might endangered those who want to share the roads. For those that still do not know, the immediate suspension of Licence of 1 week for these offences pending resolution of the charges, have no right for appeal.. take a look at what's coming on your streets and highways and drive accordingly or be very ready to get a Bus Pass out or have money for a ride home. The Police will just drive the apprehended driver to a safe place and it is your responsibility how to get home. Street racers warned..OPP warns street racers to get a bus pass out..now don't blame me, I warned you...Mario Andretti!!!

UPADATE ON THE New Street Racing Law, October 1, 3:l5 am:


The law was in effect barely less than 24 hours ago and the Police already announced as of 8:00pm yesterday, Sunday that the already netted 28 drivers, breaking the 50 kms. over the limit. Following are the excerpt from the announcement:

For the 28 drivers charged today, the costs hit home immediately: vehicle impounded for seven days, driver’s licence suspended for seven days and, if found guilty in court, a minimum $2,000 fine.

It was enough to drive one young man to tears after he became one of the first stopped by the Ontario Provincial Police after the law — aimed at drivers doing more than 50 kilometres over the speed limit — came into effect today.

“A young man started crying as his mom’s car was impounded,” said OPP Sgt. Cam Woolley, unable to say if the tears were prompted by the temporary loss of the car, the potential fine, or in anticipation of mom’s wrath.

Another driver, who just got his new car, promptly lost it after he was clocked doing 174 km/h on Highway 401, which has a 100 km/h speed limit. “He only had the car for two days, and the car will be impounded longer than he owned it,” Woolley noted.

for more of the lead-foot who ignores the new traffic law check...some just don't get it


Now, don't wonder why vast majority of Ontarians are inclined to obey the law, instead of breaking it, the Pain of Penalties and the enforcement of the law that cater no favour to whom the "braves" (or idiots) who dare...


And before you go have a little Sunshine and have a pleasant week ahead.

Referendum Issue..same, same or Proportional Representations?

Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory, campaigning in one of the Ridings vowing to address the Energy Issues (fast-tracking of More Nuclear Plants) if he wins the Government this October 10 election...

Energy Issue is taking centre stage as the election campaign enters final stage...

Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory vows that if he is elected Premier that he will fast-track building of more Nuclear Plants by any means possible, an apparent reversal of the stand he took a few months ago.

The stand in which earlier this year, Tory called for the resignation of Environment Minister for exempting the Liberal Nuclear Plan from Provincial Environment Assessment, as Minister Laurel Broten noted that The Environment Assessment for Nuclear plans is entirely Federal.

The pledge came yesterday as energy issues took centre stage in the campaign to the Oct. 10 provincial election, with NDP Leader Howard Hampton calling for lower electricity rates to help struggling Northern Ontario mills and Premier Dalton McGuinty rejecting the idea.

For more of the election issues you may want to check the Toronto Star coverage of the Election.
here

For this week Toronto Sun's sunshines..Sunshine Girls


Referendum Issue:
This coming provincial election, there is also a question regarding the reform of how the MPP (members of Provincial Parliament) would be elected.

At present we have a direct voting system known as First Past the Post or whichever candidate in a Riding, whether representing a Political party or independent, gets the most vote, will represent the Riding. This year there will be 107 Members, Four more than the last parliament. The Party who wins the most seats wins the Government and its leader will become the Premier.
That is regardless of the Popularity vote.

The referendum will ask the voters if Proportional Representation will be introduced by 2012. The Parliament membership in this proposed referendum will compose of 90 directly elected members and 39 from the parties in proportion to their popular votes. Thus, other parties with garnered some popular votes, but do not translate to winning any seat, will have representation in the Parliament out of the 39 remaining posts. The Green Party, which fields candidates in all ridings this election but may not win a single seat, will have a chance to have members appointed by the a Party to represent the total popularity votes out of the 39 reserved seats (the Green, according to the polls could cast 10% of the Popular votes).

This Proportional System, as some critiques would suggest would undermine the individual Accountability of the Member as he or she is only accountable to the party he or she represents, but not the constituents of any riding. While its supporters insist that is a fairer systems, a chance to have a non-seat winning party or even a Party whose share of popular votes does not translate to equal percentage of seats, voices heard in the Parliament, instead of just in the Media and in the Streets.

Well, in the End issue as important as this will be decided by the Ontarians. This system will be popular among the supporters of weaker Parties, such as the New Democrats, always the 3rd party among the 3 Mainstreams, (in the last provincial parliament, all members represent only these 3 major parties) who consistently gets 18 to 20 % of the Popular votes, but only wins 10% of the seats. But for the other Two main parties and their supporters , this system is foreign and my bet will soundly rejected.. And considering that the two main parties command somewhere in the 70% of the votes, the Chances of this Referendum issue to win the Yes vote is very dim indeed.

And by the Way, the Alimodiananon sa Canada, the association of town mates from the the town of Alimodian, Iloilo along with our town mates in the U.S.A. and all over the world, celebrated our Town Fiesta Yesterday, Saturday, September 22, in honor of St. Thomas of Villanova, the Patron of the Poor and also our town patron Saint.

A mass was said by a visiting Priest from General Santos and after we had a buffet of all kinds of Filipino dishes including the always omnipresent Pizza for the kids, who always would scream Pizza, and also the olds..
To view the pictures taken by our resident professional photagraphers inday Lyn and dol Noel with his Canon SLR go to Alimodian.net gallery ..here and enjoy

Household Hazardous Waste..What are they and how to dispose of them Safely

Today, March 22, got hold of the City Circular titled WASTE WATCH and it again reminds All City Residents of proper disposal of all different categories of waste properly and this time it focuses on Household Hazardous Waste.

We all know that our environment is deteriorating badly more than we want. Our water supply are becoming not only scarce, but in some instances and in some specific locations become Unsafe for consumption.

We may already know that household hazardous waste includes items such as pesticides, engine oil, batteries and electronics devices. But it’s what we may not know that can hurt our environment. For example, are we all aware that household hazardous waste also includes unused Medications?

Medications are serious Business and require careful and special handling. Making sure that unused medications are disposed of properly is just as important as properly taking and storing them. Old and unused Medication, prescription and over the counter, is Toxic, disposed improperly could enter the environment and contaminate our lakes, rivers, groundwater and soil and eventually affect every one of us.

Cough medication, pain killers, birth control pills and most prescriptions are a few examples of the household hazardous waste that should be kept out of the Garbage and Recycling, and NEVER poured down the drain or flushed down the toilet.

So how do we disposed of properly our unwanted medications? Simply gather them in their original packaging and drop them off to the Your Local Hazardous Waste Depot or check with your Local Drug Stores if they have a Program of proper disposal of unwanted medications. Check with your Local Authorities for their Hazardous waste programs.

For Toronto Residents: if you have 10 letters of more of Hazardous Waste call this number for a Toxic Taxi for a Free Pick up - 416-392-4330 or go to www.toronto.ca/hhw to find a drop off location nearest you..

For used syringes, needles and medical waste, put them in tightly sealed and labeled container and drop them off at your local Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Depot.
Remember, we are not just saving this planet for the future generations, we do, for ourselves...