Pubdate: Thu, 14 Oct 2004 Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON) Copyright: 2004 The Ottawa Citizen Contact: http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326 Author: Elizabeth Thompson, The Montreal Gazette MARIJUANA, ANIMAL CRUELTY BILLS TOP JUSTICE MINISTER'S WISH LIST The federal government is poised to reintroduce controversial legislation to decriminalize marijuana and will accompany it with a bill giving police the power to force drivers to take a test, when warranted, to prove whether they are driving while stoned. In an interview, Justice Minister Irwin Cotler said he plans to introduce both pieces of legislation sometime in the next month. Nor does Mr. Cotler have any plans to change the legislation decriminalizing marijuana first introduced by his predecessor Martin Cauchon. "It might get changed in committee but we are basically reintroducing that legislation." Legislation to decriminalize marijuana is just one of several changes Mr. Cotler says he plans to make in a bid to overhaul Canada's criminal justice system. While many of Mr. Cotler's initiatives were not spelled out in last week's throne speech, he said his plans are reflected in the principles outlined in the speech such as a commitment to human rights and defending the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Mr. Cotler took a first step last week, introducing a bill to protect vulnerable persons from things such as child pornography and a second bill concerning those with mental disorders. However, that's just the start of what he plans to accomplish. "If I were to look at our legislative and parliamentary agenda, I think we probably, proportionately, have as many if not more bills from our department and that relate to criminal justice than anywhere else in the government." While Mr. Cotler plans to lessen the penalty for those caught with small amounts of marijuana, he will also give police more powers to stop and test, when warranted, those who smoke marijuana and then get behind the wheel. Currently, the law obliges drivers to submit to a breathalyser test if police suspect they have been driving under the influence of alcohol, but there has been no legal obligation for anyone to submit to a test to determine whether they are under the influence of marijuana, he said. "Now a technology has been developed which allows for a parallel process with regard to drug-impaired driving to be investigated and enforced as we have for alcohol-impaired driving." Mr. Cotler also plans to give police more tools by reintroducing legislation to expand the existing DNA databank, which matches the blood, hair and saliva of convicted criminals against samples taken at crimes scenes. The plight of sex-trade workers is also one of Mr. Cotlers concerns. "We want to look at how sex-trade workers can be protected and what legislative initiatives need to take place in that regard." Mr. Cotler added he is determined to reintroduce legislation governing cruelty to animals, legislation that hasn't been reformed since 1892. Bills reforming the law have been passed twice by the House of Commons only to be blocked by the Senate. However, Mr. Cotler said the bill, as it has now been amended, and has the support of both industry and animal rights groups. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek