Pubdate: Tue, 13 Aug 2002
Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB)
Copyright: 2002, Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  http://www.fyiedmonton.com/htdocs/edmsun.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135

NO PLANS FOR LEGAL POT

LONDON, Ont.(CP) -- The federal justice minister addressed corporate 
accountability and slammed the door on legalizing marijuana during a 
wide-ranging address to the Canadian Bar Association annual meeting yesterday.

"Canada has no plans to legalize marijuana," Martin Cauchon said during his 
address.

"I believe endorsing marijuana use might inflict harm on society and lead 
to greater problems."

But Cauchon said the country's drug laws deserve a closer look, and he 
didn't rule out decriminalizing marijuana.

"I believe it's time for an open discussion about modernizing the criminal 
justice system in this regard."

Many of Cauchon's Montreal constituents have told him simple possession 
should not lead to a criminal record, which denies access across borders 
and makes it hard to find a job, he said.

That issue will be part of a wide-ranging round-table discussion Cauchon 
plans this fall as "a stock-taking" of Canada's criminal laws.

He also addressed the recent corporate accounting scandals in American 
companies Enron and WorldCom that sent shockwaves through the investment 
community.

He said his government will consider legislation if needed, but he stressed 
such corporate meltdowns have not happened here.

But after Cauchon raised the issue yesterday, the Canadian Alliance quickly 
pounced on issues of credibility in the Liberal government.

In a release, Canadian Alliance MP Vic Toews pointed out that the scandals 
in the United States came at the same time as questions about several 
Liberal ad contracts.

"Instead of pointing fingers at the private sector, the justice minister 
and the Liberal government should be trying to set the example and should 
be rooting out the corruption in their own ranks," said Toews, the 
Alliance's justice critic.

A number of deals under a federal sponsorship program - in which Ottawa 
used Liberal-friendly communications firms as middlemen to buy federal ad 
space at trade shows and sports and cultural events - have been found suspect.

In his address, Cauchon also touched on his priorities as minister of 
justice, a portfolio he took over in January.

They include a continued examination of child pornography laws and a look 
at family law reforms.
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