Liberals muscling Canadian right wing to push through marijuana laws

[dutchdemocrat]

Liberals rushing marijuana bill through House

Janice Tibbetts
The Ottawa Citizen

Thursday, October 09, 2003


The federal government is rushing ahead with its plan to pass a bill to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.

Today the controversial legislation will be debated for three hours and then handed to a special parliamentary committee -- instead of the busy justice committee -- in hopes that it will pass through Parliament this fall.

The bill is expected to be fast-tracked through public hearings, a process that normally takes several months.

"My concern is this is being rushed through instead of doing this properly," said Vic Toews, Canadian Alliance justice critic. "We have significant issues that have not been addressed."

The House of Commons is widely expected to break just before the Liberal leadership convention in November and not reconvene until prime-minister-in-waiting Paul Martin replaces Jean Chrétien early next year.

Justice Minister Martin Cauchon said the drug bill -- which also seeks to strengthen penalties against marijuana grow operations -- is a top priority on a busy fall agenda that could see many legislative proposals die.

SNIP

http://canada.com/national/story.asp?id=27B5E039-18D4-4660-BB7A-01361C6757EB

--- I love to see the Canadian Alliance get squeezed. They are Canada's version of Texas Republicans and their roots lie in Alberta of course.