Cannabis activists don’t see a friend in Justin Trudeau, the presumptive frontrunner in the race for the federal Liberal leadership.
“There are some people in the marijuana movement who say he’s [Pierre] Trudeau’s son, and he’s our best hope,” Jodie Emery told the Georgia Straight in a phone interview. “But personally, I don’t find him appealing.”
“Besides being a pretty boy”, she said that there’s not much to be said about the popular politician.
Emery recalled that, in 2009, Trudeau voted in support of Bill C-15, Conservative legislation that sought to impose mandatory minimum jail time for pot-related offences.
Skeena Bulkley Valley NDP MP Nathan Cullen continues his campaign to be leader of his party by saying marijuana should be decriminalized.
“Prohibition clearly has not achieved its goals and it’s time our laws stopped criminalizing people whom society does not see as criminals,” said Cullen in response to a questionnaire from NDP members who want marijuana to be legalized.
He also favoured increasing access to marijuana for medicinal use.
Cullen also backed InSite, a supervised drug injection site in Vancouver, saying it reduces crime, saves lives and reduces drug dependence. Read more »
Peggy Nash, the NDP MP and candidate for Leader of the NDP will be in British Columbia in the coming days, and we'd like to invite you to attend her events! Peggy has been the most progressive NDP leadership candidate on marijuana and medical marijuana policy. Peggy supports the end of marijuana prohibition and the institution of a legal regulatory framework for recreational marijuana. She also believes major reforms to the medical marijuana program are necessary so medical marijuana is readily available to those who need it.
Come down, meet Peggy, and get involved in her campaign to become the next leader of the NDP and the Official Opposition!
Peggy will be hosting events in Vancouver, Coquitlam and Surrey:
The Conservative government has decided to allow just two days additional of debate on its omnibus crime bill before the proposed law goes off to a Commons committee for study.
Government House Leader Peter Van Loan announced the time restriction on Tuesday – a move designed to thwart long hours of criticism from opposition benches over the controversial 102-page piece of legislation that wraps together nine separate bills the Conservatives failed to enact during their minority government years.
Interim Liberal Leader Bob Rae immediately denounced the cutting off of debate as a act of a “majority abusing power.”
Among other things, the bill would toughen punishments for a range of criminals, from drug dealers to sexual predators to young offenders. But critics say it will be costly for taxpayers while doing little to make streets safer.
NDP House Leader Thomas Mulcair said the Official Opposition would offer to split the bill, allowing quick passage of the measures that have broad support and permitting time for debate on those items that remain contentious. Read more »
Jack Layton was an inspiration to me and, in many ways, the primary reason I joined the New Democratic Party. I knew from hearing Jack speak about his commitment to equality, human rights and ending discrimination that he would be an amazing ally in a struggle to end the horrors of prohibition. And though he will not be here to see this scourge pass from our land, I know that when we finally succeed it will have been, in part, because of his willingness to speak out at a time when doing so was seen to be politically risky. Sometimes, Jack would say, it is more important to do the right thing.
I was privileged to meet him several times and was always inspired by his energy, passion and kindness. Jack Layton was the kind of politician, and man, that our country needs now more than ever. His commitment to social justice was unparalleled and his dedication to a progressive Canada unmatched. Read more »
I've had the great honour and privilege to meet Jack Layton on 5 occasions, from brief handshakes and hellos, to speaking in person. I know I am joined by millions of Canadians today in grieving his untimely passing; even as I write this it does not seem real that such an energetic and warm person could no longer be with us.
I first met Jack at the Vancouver Pride Parade in 2009 – I was fairly new to the party and was completely tongue-tied and awe stricken to meet someone I had been learning so much about. In less than a minute, he had shaken my hand, used my name, and made me feel at ease. Then he was off to do the same to hundreds of others who I am sure were equally impressed with his political skill. Read more »
I joined the NDP largely because of Jack Layton. He was an inspiring leader and I admired his integrity and passion for a better Canada.
When he became leader in 2003 one of his first acts was to come on Pot-TV and do an interview with my friend Marc Emery. In this interview, like always, Jack spoke from the heart and took a political stand based on principle over expedience.
In the eight years since then I was honoured to meet and speak with Jack Layton on a few different occasions. Despite the problems around my federal candidacy in the 2008 election, Jack always treated me with camaraderie and respect. Read more »
I write to you today with a heavy heart. Jack Layton, leader of the New Democratic Party, has passed away. Jack was one of Canada's greatest leaders, and a man who advanced the cause of social justice, sustainability and civil rights like no other. Jack was a great friend to our community, and will be deeply missed.
I wanted to share with you my fondest memory of Jack:
Dana Larsen, Nicole Seguin and I were in Gatineau Quebec for the NDP Quebec convention last fall. The event was small, perhaps 200 people but full of camaraderie and optimism. It's hard to explain the feeling of being a marijuana activist at events such as this. Needless to say, our presence is well noted, and many are not sure what to say or do with us. People are always polite, but one gets the sense that people are afraid to be seen with us. Not Jack Layton. I think perhaps he must have noticed this behaviour from others as well. On the final evening of the convention, everyone was invited to a celebration at a local Gatineau brewery. Dana, Nicole and I along with some of our Quebec friends, had smoked a joint prior to entering the Brewery and found a table in the back corner of the room. We no doubt smelled strongly of marijuana, certainly the looks from others indicated this to be so. Read more »
Tens of thousands of Canadians have written to me in recent weeks to wish me well. I want to thank each and every one of you for your thoughtful, inspiring and often beautiful notes, cards and gifts. Your spirit and love have lit up my home, my spirit, and my determination.
Unfortunately my treatment has not worked out as I hoped. So I am giving this letter to my partner Olivia to share with you in the circumstance in which I cannot continue.
I recommend that Hull-Aylmer MP Nycole Turmel continue her work as our interim leader until a permanent successor is elected.
I recommend the party hold a leadership vote as early as possible in the New Year, on approximately the same timelines as in 2003, so that our new leader has ample time to reconsolidate our team, renew our party and our program, and move forward towards the next election. Read more »
New Democrats voted at their convention to support Vancouver's supervised injection site, and called for a drug policy based on "a non-criminal, regulatory approach to substance use."
In one of the most dramatic moments of the convention, delegates voted to suspend the rules Sunday morning, and then overruled the chair so as to allow debate on the InSite and drug policy resolution which had not made it to the floor for debate on Saturday.
Deputy Leader and Health Critic Libby Davies received a standing ovation when she stood to speak in favor of this resolution, as did Quebec MP Djaouida Sellah. Read more »
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Cannabis activists don’t see a friend in Justin Trudeau, the presumptive frontrunner in the race for the federal Liberal leadership.
Skeena Bulkley Valley NDP MP Nathan Cullen continues his campaign to be leader of his party by saying marijuana should be decriminalized.
Hey everyone,
By. Gloria Galloway, Globe and Mail
Jack Layton was an inspiration to me and, in many ways, the primary reason I joined the New Democratic Party. I knew from hearing Jack speak about his commitment to equality, human rights and ending discrimination that he would be an amazing ally in a struggle to end the horrors of prohibition. And though he will not be here to see this scourge pass from our land, I know that when we finally succeed it will have been, in part, because of his willingness to speak out at a time when doing so was seen to be politically risky. Sometimes, Jack would say, it is more important to do the right thing.
New Democrats voted at their convention to support Vancouver's supervised injection site, and called for a drug policy based on "a non-criminal, regulatory approach to substance use."
