Pubdate: Wed, 07 Jan 2004
Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB)
Copyright: 2004, Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  http://www.fyiedmonton.com/htdocs/edmsun.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135
Author: Kirk Tousaw
Note: Parenthetical remark by the Sun editor, headline by newshawk

PARLIAMENT SHOULD GET ITS PRIORITIES STRAIGHT

I READ Maria McClintock's Jan. 6 story, "Brazen fraudsters mail guns, drugs 
to Canada" with interest. In particular, I was looking for expressions of 
outrage from our parliamentarians and juicy quotes from the U.S. "drug 
czar," John Walters. After all, the importation of heroin, cocaine and 
firearms from the U.S. into Canada poses significant dangers to the 
Canadian public. However, no such quotes appeared. I find it ironic that 
potential marijuana law reform efforts in Canada draw instant, loud 
criticism from high-placed U.S. officials like czar Walters, and from 
certain members of our own Parliament (like Randy White), but the much more 
serious and dangerous importation of guns and hard drugs from the U.S. 
occurs without so much as a whisper of condemnation? Isn't it time that 
Parliament got its priorities straight and the U.S. took responsibility for 
the criminal actions of its citizens instead of meddling in internal 
Canadian politics?

Kirk Tousaw, policy director

B.C. Civil Liberties Association

(Missing notable quotables.)
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman