Pubdate: Thu, 25 Apr 2002 Source: Globe and Mail (Canada) Copyright: 2002, The Globe and Mail Company Contact: http://www.globeandmail.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168 Forum: http://forums.theglobeandmail.com/ Author: Canadian Press Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmjcn.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal - Canada) SUSPENDED MP APOLOGIZES FOR DECORUM BREACH OTTAWA -- One day after he was suspended from the House of Commons, Canadian Alliance MP Keith Martin formally apologized for grabbing the ceremonial mace last week. In a statement to Speaker Peter Milliken and his fellow MPs at the bar of the Commons yesterday, Dr. Martin said he hoisted the symbol of parliamentary authority in a "gesture of protest." "It is with regret that I find myself standing here before this House at the bar, but it is understandable that I find myself here," he said. "It was wrong for me to take the mace, the symbol of the dignity and authority of the House, into my hands as a gesture of protest. . . . I ask that you accept this apology in the spirit in which it is afforded." Mr. Milliken immediately asked the Vancouver Island MP to resume his seat. On Tuesday, the House voted 173-49 to suspend Dr. Martin until he apologized for what he admitted was a premeditated act of civil disobedience. Dr. Martin grabbed the large gilded club last week after his private member's bill to decriminalize marijuana was quashed by the Liberals in what he called a "poison pill" amendment. The MP for Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca apologized informally to the House shortly after the incident. But during a two-hour debate on the matter on Monday, he said his action was deliberate and he had no regrets. Yesterday, Dr. Martin said it was wrong for him to have done so. "I have reflected on my actions and had the benefit of hearing my colleagues speak eloquently about this place and about the respect that must be accorded to it." - --- MAP posted-by: Josh