Pubdate: Wed, 23 May 2001
Source: Montreal Gazette (CN QU)
Copyright: 2001 The Gazette, a division of Southam Inc.
Contact:  http://www.montrealgazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/274
Author: Elizabeth Thompson

DECRIMINALIZE POT, TORY BOSS URGES

Clark takes personal stand on marijuana use, saying it's unfair to burden 
youths with record

Conservative Party leader Joe Clark called on the federal government 
yesterday to decriminalize marijuana, saying it's not fair for a young 
person to face a lifelong criminal record for possession of the drug.

"Personally, I make a distinction between legalization and 
decriminalization," Clark told reporters. "What interests me is 
decriminalization because I don't want to have a young person carry forever 
the burden of a conviction for a criminal offence."

For example, a criminal record can block a young person from pursuing some 
careers, he said.

But Clark was careful to point out that his position is a personal one that 
is not shared by everyone in his party.

"That is my position. There are some of my MPs who don't share that 
position and we can discuss it during the meetings of the federal committee."

Clark's comments come in the wake of a decision by the House of Commons 
last week to set up a committee to study the use of non-medical drugs, 
including marijuana. They also come at the same time as a public-opinion 
poll conducted by a University of Lethbridge sociologist that found 47 per 
cent of Canadians favour the legalization of marijuana.

Yesterday, Clark took advantage of a break in the House of Commons schedule 
to drum up support for his party in Quebec City and to pay a visit to 
Quebec Premier Bernard Landry - a man Clark described as an old friend and 
a formidable adversary of federalism.

Clark emerged from a 20-minute meeting with the sovereignist leader to warn 
that there is "a danger that the rest of Canada could underestimate the 
impact of Mr. Landry" and his ability to win a referendum on sovereignty.

Landry Underestimated

"It may well be that there are a lot of Canadian federalists outside of 
Quebec who think that Mr. (Lucien) Bouchard's departure means that the 
threat of sovereignty is over. I think they underestimate the intensity of 
the commitment of Mr. Landry to that view and his great skill as a 
political leader, and I don't underestimate either of those."

Clark said Canadians should take Landry seriously and should also show "a 
lot of imagination" in renewing the way Canada works.

Landry said he was "delighted" to meet Clark, describing him as an old 
friend despite their ideological differences on sovereignty.

"Ideologically speaking, I am advocating something that he is not 
advocating and if I am efficient and useful in promoting my idea, of course 
that will mean a setback for his own idea."

While Landry has rarely been known to shy away from a controversial 
subject, yesterday he refused to take any position on the decriminalization 
of marijuana, pleading that it was a federal responsibility.

Yesterday, as he toured Quebec City, a region made up largely of 
soft-nationalist swing ridings, it was clear Clark was also setting out to 
try to win back some of the soft-nationalist vote that once helped propel 
the Tories to power.

"I am a friend of nationalists in Quebec," Clark said. "My attitudes 
concerning Quebec nationalists are well known in Ottawa and if it is going 
to cause me problems, it is a little late for that."

Later, during an interview on French-language TV channel RDI, Clark 
predicted the Tories will be able to pull support in Quebec from both the 
Bloc Quebecois and the Canadian Alliance in the next federal election.

Today, Clark is to continue trying to rebuild Conservative fortunes in 
Quebec, including a fundraising dinner tonight at the Ritz Carlton Hotel.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom