TORONTO, Aug. 22 /CNW/ - The Ontario government is intensifying its fight

against methamphetamine, also known as meth or crystal meth, with additional

training and resources for front-line police officers, Community Safety and

Correctional Services Minister Monte Kwinter said today.

    "Crystal meth is a growing problem for many Ontario communities," said

Kwinter. "We're acting because this drug is highly addictive and ruins the

lives of ordinary Ontarians. Its production is extremely dangerous and

threatens public safety."

    The province is providing $230,000 to the Ontario Police College to build

and equip a mock illegal drug lab. The lab will include a meth production area

and a marijuana grow operation to train police officers to properly identify,

investigate and dismantle that type of installation. The college has also

prepared a training package for front-line police officers on the dangers of

meth and its production.

    "Communities across the province will be safer because of this new

facility, as police officers will get the most up-to-date training on how to

deal with the dangers of crystal meth and marijuana production," said Rudy

Gheysen, director of the Ontario Police College.

    At Kwinter's direction, a working group was created in June 2005 to

determine the extent of the problem in Ontario and recommend ways the

provincial government could assist communities, health care providers,

educators and police services in dealing with the use and production of meth.

The Crystal Meth Working Group held its first meeting in early August.

    Kwinter also said Ontario supports the recent decision by the federal

government to increase the maximum penalties for the possession, trafficking

and production of meth. The maximum sentence for the production and

distribution of meth is now life in prison, instead of 10 years.

    "Our government and its partners have been pressing Ottawa to increase

the sentences related to the production and sale of crystal meth," said

Kwinter. "With our own efforts and stricter sentences, we'll be in a better

position to fight this problem and reduce the risks for many Ontarians."

    Disponible en français

                           www.mpss.jus.gov.on.ca

    Backgrounder

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           FIGHTING METHAMPHETAMINE PRODUCTION AND USE IN ONTARIO

    The province is intensifying its fight against methamphetamine with

additional training and resources for front-line police officers. A working

group has also been created to recommend ways to prevent the spread of meth,

also known as crank or crystal meth.

    The Crystal Meth Working Group

    The Crystal Meth Working Group will develop a provincial response to

determine the scope of the problem in Ontario, look at what is done in other

jurisdictions to fight meth and what the provincial government could do to

assist communities, health care professionals, educators and police services

in dealing with the use and production of the drug.

    The working group held a preliminary meeting in early August.

    Co-chairs of the working group

    The working group will be co-chaired by David Bédard, the manager of the

Organized Crime Strategy unit at the Ministry of Community Safety and

Correctional Services, and Acting Detective Superintendant Frank Elbers of the

Ontario Provincial Police's Drug Enforcement Section.

    Working group membership

    Other members of the working group include:

    -  Jerry McEwin, chief of the Statford Police Service

    -  Richard Young, acting chief of the Stratford Fire Service

    -  Dr. Rosana Pellizzari, Medical Officer of Health, Perth District

       Health Unit.

    Many of the 17 meth lab busts in the province over the last two years

have been in Perth, a rural area where the chemicals needed to make the drug -

including anhydrous ammonia, a fertilizer - can easily be found.

    Working group members will also include representatives from the

following organizations:

    -  Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario

    -  The Ontario Provincial Police

    -  The Police Association of Ontario

    -  The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care

    -  The Ontario Building Officials Association

    -  The Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    -  Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada

    -  The Ontario Provincial Police Association

    -  The Canadian Mental Health Association

    -  The Meth Watch Coalition

    -  Choices for Change.

    Contact:

    Anthony Brown

    Communications Branch

    416-314-7772