STIGMATIZING THE NEEDY

The Mike Harris government is off intimidating the poor again.

It's launched a ``consultation'' on mandatory drug testing and treatment
for the needy.

This consultation will ask such questions as: ``What are the best
practices, tests and instruments to determine addiction?''

The government will act in the new year. Those who ``refuse treatment or
won't take tests on request will be ineligible for a welfare cheque.''

All this in the name of helping drug addicts achieve ``dignity.''

This isn't about dignity. It's about rubbing the noses of the needy in yet
another humiliation. It's about stigmatizing people who need help.

It isn't even about solving a real problem. There's no evidence welfare
recipients are any more likely to be on drugs than Tories.

Solving a real drug problem would be to let women victimized by date-rape
drugs get tests through their doctors, something supposedly too costly.

The policy has nothing to do with getting jobs for drug addicts. ``Drug
testing suffers from one fundamental flaw,'' the Ontario Court of Appeal
ruled last July. ``A positive drug test shows only past drug use. It cannot
show how much was used or when it was used. Thus, a positive drug test
provides no evidence of impairment or likely impairment on the job.''

And as for finding the ``best tests,'' the court held that ``no tests
currently exist to accurately assess the effect of drug use on job
performance.''

Further, ``drug testing programs have not been shown to be effective in
reducing drug use, work accidents or work performance problems.''

If Harris is truly interested in dignity, he'll provide more child care so
welfare parents can take jobs.

If he's truly interested in helping drug addicts, he'll find cash for
underfunded treatment centres.

If he's truly interested in consulting, he'll consult the court judgments
and call the whole thing off - before he inflicts yet more hurt.