Part of a private members bill, intended to make it harder for drug dealers to peddle drugs, which was introduced in the Manitoba Legislature last spring by Steinbach MLA, Kelvin Goertzen, is being accepted by the NDP government.
“The legislation is intended to take away some of the tools that drug dealers use to sell drugs to kids and to adult addicts,” said Goertzen. “It’s just one more thing that we can do and it’s just common sense to try to put up obstacles that make it harder for people to sell dangerous and deadly drugs.”
Last spring, Goertzen introduced legislation that would have seen vehicles seized and drivers’ licences suspended of individuals carrying illegal drugs for the purposes of trafficking. On Thursday of last week the NDP government indicated they would be accepting the drivers licence suspension portion of the legislation and would work with Goertzen and justice officials to ensure the law moves forward.
Since being elected in 2003, Goertzen has introduced a number of pieces of legislation which have been accepted by the government including legislation to allow parents to get drug treatment for their minor children and legislation that allows emergency responders to get blood they come into contact with tested for disease.
“I’m always pleased to see ideas that are brought forward which are intended to make Manitoba a better and safer place accepted,” said Goertzen. “I’ve always felt that, despite being in the official opposition, the people who elected me want me to bring forward positive ideas and I have tried to do that and I am glad this one is going to move forward.”
