Pubdate: Sun, 15 Dec 2002
Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2002, Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact:  http://www.fyiottawa.com/ottsun.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329
Author: Dave Haans
Note: Parenthetical remark by the Sun editor, headline by newshawk

HYPOCRITICAL GOVERNMENT

Re "Tories smoking mad at pot plans," (Dec. 11): I got a good laugh from 
Ontario Health Minister Tony Clement when he said "This is another type of 
pollution of one's body, quite frankly, and if we want to concern ourselves 
with health and wellness, this seems to be going the other direction," in 
response to the parliamentary committee's sensible suggestion that we 
decriminalize pot.

Is this the same MP whose government has increased made-in-Ontario air 
pollution steadily since taking power, leading to smog alert after smog 
alert all summer long? Isn't he a member of the same government whose 
energy policy has resulted in much more coal-based electricity generation, 
in a province where there are already over 1,000 deaths a year because of 
the choking haze? (And don't even get me started on the skyrocketing 
electricity prices we got as a bonus, if we were lucky enough to survive 
the summer.)

That isn't even all -- isn't he with all of those good-time boys now under 
fire for all that expensive wining and dining (especially wining) on the 
taxpayer's tab? And by the way, what kind of mixed message does all that 
send to kids?

Dave Haans

Toronto

(Keep your receipts?) 
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MAP posted-by: Beth