Keep the dog
Re Editorial Drug dog must go (the News, April 25):
I can’t believe that Richard Mostyn and other media types keep insisting that the drug dog must go.
We have told them repeatedly that the dog Ebony, and handler Doug Green were brought into the school for prevention, not for prosecution.
It was recognized a few years ago by the Porter Creek School administration, concerned parents and the school council that there was a significant problem with drugs being brought to the school, used at the school and being sold at the school.
The parents and council bravely embarked on a proven program because they wanted to do something about it.
Very early on, the council discussed the legal aspects and the human rights questions. We believed then and I still believe that the right of students to study in a drug-free environment was the highest priority.
Why should Grade 8 or 9 students have to face pressure to either try drugs while at school or to buy drugs?
Parents wanted something done about the drug situation. Some parents wanted a drug-sniffing dog, but the council and administration decided against it because of the possibility of infringing on the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The council then learned about the Dogs For Drug Free Schools program.
It is NOT a drug-sniffing program for the purpose of incriminating drug pushers.
I repeat, for Mostyn, and others, Ebony is not in the school to catch drug pushers! Or more simply put for Mostyn, the dog is not there to ‘sniff’ drugs.
Ebony and Doug Green are at Porter Creek School to educate students about the bad side of taking drugs. They are in the school to prevent kids from bringing drugs to school because Porter Creek School has a goal to be drug free.
The students have been shown on several occasions that Ebony has a highly developed ability to detect drugs.
They have not been threatened with prosecution or even with public detection.
I, and the school council and administration think that nearly all the students are smart enough to understand the dog’s ability and therefore would not likely bring drugs to school.
I would even bet that most of the students are not worried about having their rights and freedoms compromised by this dog.
No, it’s a bunch of libertarians who are more afraid of some theoretical loss of rights than they are of a 13-year-old being confronted by a pusher who has only one goal and that is to get the kid hooked on drugs.
Most parents and most students would like to have the right to a drug-free school and the freedom to attend school without being confronted by others who would like to harm them.
I’m damned if I’m going to worry about the right to carry drugs without being detected or the freedom to buy and sell drugs without the fear of prosecution
We lost the ‘war on drugs’ a long time ago, but we can still fight the battle of keeping the school drug free from 9 to 3!
Mike Gladish
Whitehorse
Get rid of the dog
Re Drug dog must go:
This ruling would be cause for celebration if Canadian police did not routinely break and bend rules to fit their own agenda.
Besides that, the judicial system itself is so systematically corrupt that, even if people’s “rights” were violated by these cops and their dogs, it isn’t like a judge is going to stick up for you!
Russell Barth, Patients Against Ignorance and Discrimination on Cannabis
Via e-mail
City vs. the people
I read, with interest, the article regarding the fellow who was ordered by bylaw to remove his for-sale vehicle from the Wal-Mart parking lot.
I see there is a bylaw here and it seems there may be some real problems with it. John Gullison asks legitimate questions.
Does this apply to all advertising on various other vehicles we see on the streets of Whitehorse? Some even parked on residential streets.
Maybe re-visiting this law may be necessary. It does seem all encompassing and subject to a great degree of interpretation.
Do we even really need the bylaw?
Is it that bad?
Or, as mentioned, does it offend the business folks mostly?
But what is disturbing to me is the comment referred to in the latter stages of the report in regard to the $50 fine.
Was I misreading or was it not said the bylaw enforcement persons advised Gullison if he proceeded to court they “could ask the fine be raised to an unspecified amount”?
This reads a little like blackmail to me.
Was he in fact advised the fine was $50 for non-compliance and then threatened if he did not do as the city told him?
I think this had better be addressed and quickly.
Our city administration may have to have an educational session with some employees.
Grant Rayson
Whitehorse
Equal treatment
Congratulations on your recent announcement of $80,000 in funding for community recycling.
I hope you will extend the same spirit of environmental stewardship to properly funding Mount Lorne’s Mile 9 transfer station.
Mount Lorne has pioneered community recycling and waste reduction in the Yukon.
Dump employees already contribute a significant amount of volunteer time, and deserve to earn a decent wage for their paid hours, at parity with neighbouring facilities.
It is our understanding that as of April 1 the Mile 9 facility is operating without a signed contribution agreement with the Yukon government.
This is irresponsible for a government that is focused on investing in communities, developing regionalized capabilities and maximizing opportunities to decrease environmental impacts.
Responsible garbage management is a top priority for Mount Lorne, as has been demonstrated over the last 13 years, and most recently in partnership with other community organizations such as Goldenhorn Elementary and the Lorne Mountain Community Association where they collectively diverted more than 80 per cent of their waste through programming and education provided by the employees of the Mount Lorne Garbage Management Society.
We are pleased to write this letter of support for the Mount Lorne Mile 9 transfer station.
The team there operates a valued facility within our community and deserves to receive equal compensation and recognition with other similar Yukon facilities.
We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming Community Gathering and Fundraiser – Dumpster Dining on Sunday May 4th from 1 to 4 p.m.
Please help us to keep our transfer station open.
The board of directors
Lorne Mountain Community Association
