Scientology and the Public Good

"It is true and appropriate that occasionally someone would be referred to a proper medical authority when and as needed. This is what any and all drug rehabs do and are supposed to do. That this was 'because of Narconon methods' is a fabrication.
"There are certain persons with their own coloured histories and agendas who have taken on a campaign against Narconon and also Scientology.
"If there is someone who has a grudge or fixed opinion about Scientology, I sincerely recommend he or she take it up with church personnel... Why anyone would express that he or she is 'fearful is beyond me. We all couldn't be more open to questions."
Clark Carr, president, Narconon International

People in Hockley Village, a small Ontario town northwest of Toronto, are somewhat perturbed at the prospect of a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre opening on a tract of land now up for sale, by a California-based group whose rehabilitation program is controversial, to say the least. Even more controversial is that the program is based on teachings of the Church of Scientology. People do have their biases, after all. Some of them even based on reason.

Clark Carr, president of Narconon, made himself available for the purpose of dispelling concerns of area residents by appearing at a meeting held in Hockley Village. The new facilities would not at all represent a 'risk' in any sense of the word to the community. As for Narconon's drug-free program, he claimed it to have wide acceptance, it "has been looked at very carefully in many countries". He did not manage to dispel community fears, however.

And nor can it look good for the future if the facility is built and becomes operational when the village, a month after Mr. Carr's goodwill visit, is plastered with red and black "No Narconon in Hockley" signs. Despite that there's a $10 price tag for anyone willing to procure one and set it up for display. They're selling very well, with proceeds going toward costs associated with battling the proposal.

"It's the number one topic of conversation. People stopping in the road, you know what they're talking about", commented resident Lisa Caissie.

RACHEL MENDLESON / Toronto Star

Lisa Caissie walks her dogs along a street in Hockley Valley, where talk of a new rehab centre linked to Scientology has some residents up in arms.

The "exclusive country estate", property of Marguerite Blenkarn, previously owned by her late husband MP Donald Blenkarn is for sale. And Narconon has placed a conditional bid on the property; one of several sites considered "as part of Narconon's ongoing expansion program, to become the first such centre in Ontario. A regional health authority in Quebec had shuttered the Narconon facility in that province when it was claimed the methods they use had caused four of their clients to land in hospital.

Mr. Carr, however, disputed the story aired on the CBC, explaining that the Trois Rivieres facility was closed once the province "fundamentally changed its posture toward what kind of drug rehabilitation it would tolerate", arriving at a preference for "strictly medical, drug substitution, and so forth". Under those new conditions Narconon was informed it must reapply for its licence, though the province "made it clear that they would never approve Narconon unless we irreversibly changed our method of treatment".

Narconon staff receives training in emergency medical protocol. The Hockley facility is meant to have a "properly trained" nurse on site. And would also have the services of a consulting medical doctor on the premises "as needed", added Mr. Carr. Admissions to Narconon were through a pre-approval process through a medical physician attesting that a patient would present "as physically and mentally capable of doing" the program.

A program that Mr. Carr claims has produced over 35,000 graduates since 1995.

A video on the church's website speaks of the retreat as "exactly what is required to assist Canadian Scientologists through the ultimate frontier at the top of the bridge to total freedom". And the residents of Hockley Valley are settling in for the long haul, for whatever it will take to persuade Narconon that their quiet little village would represent a really, really bad choice for location of their prestigious, so successful enterprise.