Pubdate: Fri, 09 Dec 2005
Source: Burnaby Newsleader (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Burnaby Newsleader
Contact:  http://www.burnabynewsleader.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1315
Author: Jeff Nagel
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

LAYTON MAKES CAMPAIGN SWING THROUGH REGION

NDP leader Jack Layton says his party will press the  Liberals to
maintain the federal moratorium on offshore  oil exploration in B.C.
waters.

In a campaign stop in the province last Saturday,  Layton accused
Prime Minister Paul Martin of remaining  silent on the issue, while
forcing drilling critic  David Anderson out of cabinet.

"He was the one person who would speak out on it,"  Layton said in an
interview. "He got dumped from the  environment portfolio - that sent
a pretty strong  message."

Layton touched on a series of resource issues in a  swing through
Surrey and Burnaby ridings, where he  mocked Martin's handling of the
softwood lumber dispute  with the U.S.

Instead of more talk, Layton said, Canada should place  an export
charge on oil and gas that goes south and  "let our American friends
know loudly, clearly and  respectfully well in advance that we're
being forced to  consider such an initiative because of the unfairness
 of the actions of the American administration."

Layton also pledged to explore whatever steps are  possible to undo
the sale of Terasen Gas to Kinder  Morgan.

"The Liberals in Victoria and the Liberals in Ottawa  both said no to
any public input. That's wrong."

He took aim at the Conservative pledge to cut the GST  by two per cent
over five years.

"Tax cuts are nice but they're not the top priority,"  he said.

He also pledges to continue to back the  decriminalization of
possession of small amounts of  marijuana - a bill that died with the
Martin  government.

"Our view is there should be rules around marijuana  use, personal
use, age, driving, trafficking, mass  production and marketing," he
said.

And Layton dismissed critics who say the stance helps  organized
crime.

"When something is criminalized to the extent that  marijuana is you
have by definition created a context  for organized crime," he said.

With just five seats out B.C.'s 36, a strong finish  this election
could translate into big gains for the  NDP.

How many does he hope for?

"More. A lot more."
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin