“If you don’t try, you don’t get”- Lethbridge Mayor Chris Spearman presses for federal and provincial help with the drug crisis
LETHBRIDGE – Mayor Chris Spearman says he received unanimous support Oct.19 from the 22 Alberta mid-sized city mayors for a resolution to send two letters; one to the provincial government, and one to the federal government expressing the urgent need for help dealing with a growing drug crisis.
One letter, signed by the 22 mayors, has been sent to the federal Justice Minister calling for more stringent penalties for drug trafficking.
“The drug flow is a huge problem for every city. It’s unfettered drug flow. And secondly, with respect to transportation to safe sobering facilities, either by police, or by social service agencies. In our case it would be the diversion outreach team.”
The latter is a provincial government matter, which Spearman says has been addressed by sending another letter signed by all 22 mid-sized city mayors to the provincial Solicitor General and Minister of Justice. It calls for new legislation to permit lawful intervention, transportation and detention of those addicted to drugs and visibly using illegal drugs in public places to safe sobering facilities.