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." - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin