“Bill C-26; A destructive piece of legislation ” Liberals & NDP
A destructive piece of legislation, says local MP Keith Martin
Protesters are set to gather Monday, December 17, at MP offices in Victoria and across Canada to speak out against proposed drug laws they say are draconian and ineffective. The Conservatives’ Bill C-26 would entrench the criminalization of cannabis and require minimum mandatory prison terms for people caught with pot.
Protest organizer Ted Smith of Victoria’s Cannabis Buyer’s Club says the laws would needlessly clog up already over-burdened courts and jails, and that organized crime would only profit from prohibition. The Conservatives are driven by an ideological agenda that is disconnected from most Canadians, he says.
“The moral minority, that’s what we’re up against here,” says Smith. “It’s pretty self-righteous of these people to be condemning the cannabis culture, one of the most peaceful subcultures in society.” Smith says he is organizing two local protests this week—one outside Saanich-Gulf Islands Conservative MP Gary Lunn’s Sidney constituency office, the other NDP MP Denise Savoie’s Victoria office—both of which are set for noon on the 17th. Savoie, who shares Smith’s concerns, will be addressing the gathering outside her office.
“Clearly we all want the bad guys—the organized criminals, the violent criminals—put away, so that’s not in question. What I’m questioning is this American-style war on drugs that has shown itself to be a failure,” Savoie says.
Liberal MP for Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca Keith Martin is also very much against Harper’s stance on drugs. In fact, it is one of the issues that made him leave the Conservatives for the Liberals in the first place, he says. “This is a very destructive piece of legislation, it’s going to criminalize ordinary folk and ruin lives at the expense of the taxpayer,” Martin says. The government should focus on education, prevention and targeting organized crime, not on criminalization, he added.
While he is fairly confident Bill C-26 won’t get passed this time around, Martin says he is afraid Harper will be able to ram it through if he gets re-elected with a majority. Lunn’s spokesman, Logan Wenham, says Lunn was unavailable for comment and that he is not even sure if Lunn will be in Victoria on December 17.
Popularity: 17% [?]
The facist minority at it again. To criminize cannabis and to threaten adults with punishments that could ruin their families, reputations, employment and travel opportunities is absolutly obsurd.
Harper’s facist police should concentrate on “real social problems” and not make mountains out of molehills.
Put the money your wasting on this initiative back into the child care and other social programs that have been slashed by these idiots.
OK, I voted conservative because I like my government to be responsible with financial matters. I was happy it was a minority gov’t too, as this checked the moral silliness that tends to come from right-wingers -as in this case. Anyways, why is it so hard for gov’ts to prioritize issues? What is the point of this bill overall? Is pot really that harmful that even the most casual smoker can go to jail for it? Really? That doesn’t seem fiscally responsible at all. I wonder if “W” mentioned that Harper should push for this? I hope Harper isn’t listening to him, I mean jeez, he’s gone in just over a year -who cares about his agenda with us.
BTW, I live out here in wonderful, bountiful -with pot- BC, and lately I’ve noticed that other much harder, and more addictive narcotics are making the rounds. Isn’t that a greater issue here? We all know who’s bringing it in, I would rather see that stopped -and those particular gangsters removed from Canada- than this silly piece of legislation.
Pot protesters oppose Bill C-26
Stefan Schussler
The Leader-Post
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Tim Selenski of the Head to Head store in Regina handcuffed himself to one of the front doors of the Saskatchewan Legislative Building in Regina on Monday to protest federal Bill C-26.
CREDIT: Don Healy, The Leader-Post
Tim Selenski of the Head to Head store in Regina handcuffed himself to one of the front doors of the Saskatchewan Legislative Building in Regina on Monday to protest federal Bill C-26.
A group of protesters gathered at the provincial legislature Monday to protest amendments to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act proposed by the Harper government.
Bill C-26 would see the imposition of mandatory minimum sentences for possession of drugs with the purposes of trafficking.
The protest was part of the National Day of Demonstration protesting marijuana prohibition and Bill C-26. Protesters all around the country were urged to lobby local politicians to demand they end support for the proposed amendments.
Under the proposed bill, mandatory minimum sentences would be imposed where previously there were none. For example, anybody caught producing less than 200 marijuana plants with the intent to traffic would be sentenced to at least six months in jail. The bill includes “aggravating factors” which may increase the minimum sentence. For example, if the offence was committed on or near a school, or any place frequented by people under the age of 18, the minimum sentence would increase to nine months.
Other aggravating factors include the use or threat of use of a weapon, and involving anyone under 18 years in the commission of an offence.
“Our strategy to get tough on illegal drugs really concentrates on the traffickers, on the elements that have relationships with organized crime, with violent offenders, or with youth,” said Andrew Scheer, Conservative MP for Regina-Qu’Appelle. “It’s not anything out of line with what Canadians want.”
Scheer said he believes the bill would make it more difficult to produce and traffic drugs and be associated with organized crime.
However, protesters said that the bill would do little to prevent the darkest parts of the criminal world from dealing marijuana, and punishes small-time dealers and users.
“The profit lies at the core of everything,” said protester Jason Green. “Large-scale growers and dealers, this is not deterring them. This is going to increase their profit margins. The price of cannabis is going to shoot up.”
Green said that in the United States, where the War on Drugs began, marijuana is the same price as cocaine.
“You put more profit in it, it perpetuates more people dealing,” he added.
“Bill C-26 is trying to make marijuana more illegal than it already is. There are more important things they should be worrying about — like the coke and heroin dealers that are killing people — than marijuana, which doctors prescribe to help people feel better,” said protester Kristin Swenson.
One protester, who identified himself only as Mike, said he turned to growing his own plants to avoid buying it from a dealer.
“(Marijuana) is a stepping-stone because of having to go to an illegal drug user where you are within arms reach of all the other narcotics,” he said.
Under the proposed amendments, Mike said he would face the same sentence for the few plants that he grows for personal use, as a person with a larger operation who actually intends to sell.
Other critics point to the fact that some of the aggravating factors are open to immense interpretation, such as what constitutes trafficking, what constitutes an area frequented by minors, and what constitutes a public safety hazard.
Scheer insists that the proposed amendments target organized crime and violent offenders. Offenders who are caught with weapons would face a minimum sentence of one year.
“It’s aimed at the darker element of the drug trade,” he said, adding the bill does offer those convicted of a drug offence, who do not fall under the aggravating factors, may be given the option of seeking treatment to reduce their sentences.
However, protesters aren’t convinced.
“If mandatory minimum sentences really helped prevent crimes, the U.S. would be the safest nation in the world, but it’s not. What makes us think these draconian measures will have better results in (Canada)?” said protester Pete Jacobson.
© The Leader-Post (Regina) 2007
hi, my name is denai and i am a grade 11 student in Leth, AB. I just so happened to go protesting myself as well as a few other friends that came with me here in Lethbridge. I think its stupid how they’re trying to enforce this law… i think marijuana should be legalized. Even if it was it doesnt mean that u have to smoke weed, its just less of a hassel to deal with. It’s too small of a crime to be going to jail over… it’s just dumb!
TO me this is completely retarded. Why are they worrying about something that is between coffee and alcohol, meanwhile one of the major problems in this province(ab) and possibly even canada is meth. what are they doing about that? I personally have only seen 1 commercial/advertisement/ect about meth. Pot is 1 of the mildest substances known to man. Hell, tobacco is alot worse for you than marijuana and its perfectly legal to purchase it. It has been proven the worst that happens to you from smoking the HERB is that you get bronchitis, which in the end isn’t bad enough to kill you unless your stupid about your health. I have never heard of anyone being violent, aggravating,stealing, ect from weed. Unless it’s on a massive dealer scale where there is thousands of dollars involved and somebody owes somebody money. There are thousands of things worse in this country than weed that needs to be taken care of. This bill is ridiculous. I sincerely hope it doesn’t get passed this time around or ever. The LAST thing Canada needs is to turn into the States with our laws. ESPECIALLY when its is given by doctors to cancer patients, and other people with chronic(no pun intended) illness and disorders.
I am going to toss my two cent’s in as someone who DOES NOT use pot in any way..in fact i’m allergic to it, I also am for decriminalizing it, not sure about outright legalization, but the worst you should get for less that trafficking amounts is a fine. or maybe they should legalize it, tax the living shit out of it, and put all the tax money from it into programs aimed at stopping meth and other serious drugs, history has repeatedly shown that draconian drug laws do nothing…in numerous countries, so learn from this and find a more socially positive strategy….percentage wise, non users are by far in the lesser minority…..my guess is even in the government this holds true
very interesting.
i’m adding in RSS Reader
What in Gods name is this gov trying to do with us.? Its only about the money. Money, hungry, middle, aged farts who fantasize over complete enslavement and corruption of others. What a joke this Country has become. Those creeps should be ashamed of them selves. It makes me wonder how this snake Harper squirmed his way into leading Canada.
Adolf Harper should run for Pres of U.S and stay out of peaceful Canada. Evil, Evil man.
I’m a US citizen living with the drug war. All I have to say is this: Please keep fighting the good fight Canada. My nation has lost its marbles, things are getting worse here all the time for those of us who actually value freedom. We are a nation in decline, don’t let our idiot government take your nation down with us.
Also, keep asking why. There are a few reasons, none of which are openly discussed by the people pushing these dumb laws. The interests of pharmaceutical companies alone have a huge bearing on this. Oil, paper, all kinds of industries stand to loose ground if marijuana is allowed to reach its full potential. They will fight tooth and nail against your freedom.