Pubdate: Wed, 13 Sep 2017
Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB)
Copyright: 2017 Winnipeg Free Press
Contact: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/send_a_letter
Website: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502
Author: Solomon Israel
Page: A8

MANITOBA ASKS OTTAWA FOR CLARITY ON IMPLEMENTATION

THE government of Manitoba wants Ottawa to provide "further clarity"
on how it will support provinces in implementing Bill C45, the
Cannabis Act.

In a Tuesday news release, Manitoba Justice Minister Heather Stefanson
described cannabis legalization as "a significant shift in public
policy with many challenges for the provinces and territories to address."

Road safety is an area of particular concern, said Stefanson, who
expects that topic to be front and centre when justice ministers from
the federal, provincial and territorial governments meet in Vancouver
from today to Friday.

Stefanson told the Free Press she's particularly concerned about
ensuring roadside testing devices are available to police officers, as
well as ensuring proper training for police.

"And so I would fully agree with the Canadian Association of Chiefs of
Police in their statement today that they would like to see a
postponement of the date of legalization," she said, referring to that
organization's Tuesday presentation to the House of Commons Standing
Committee on Health, which is holding a week-long hearing on Bill C45.
The police called for the federal government to consider postponing
legalization in order to give law enforcement more time to prepare.
Legalization of cannabis is scheduled to take place by July 2018.

Along with Alberta Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley, Stefanson is
co-chairwoman of a provincial-territorial working group exploring
various aspects of cannabis legalization including drug-impaired
driving, taxation, regulation, production and distribution.

That working group is due to present its findings to provincial and
territorial premiers by Nov. 1, according to Stefanson's press
secretary. The premiers will then decide whether to formally ask the
federal government for a delay in legalization. Manitoba Premier Brian
Pallister has previously called for legalization to be delayed by one
year.

"Our primary concern regarding the legalization of marijuana is the
health and safety of Manitobans," Stefanson said in Tuesday's news
release.

"The federal government must recognize that rushing into something of
this magnitude presents tremendous risks, which is why our working
group will continue to seek clarity on federal support while provinces
make progress on numerous policy areas related to Bill C45."
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MAP posted-by: Matt