Pubdate: Wed, 28 Jan 2004
Source: Consort Enterprise, The (CN AB)
Copyright: 2004 The Consort Enterprise
Contact:  http://consortenterprise.awna.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2531
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BSE - GUN REGISTRATION - HEROIN ADDICTS ...

Crowfoot M.P., Kevin Sorenson was in Consort last Friday evening. For the 
past two weeks Mr. Sorenson has been travelling around Crowfoot hearing the 
concerns of his constituents and addressing the issues being raised.

Kevin, along with his wife Darlene and his assistant from his Ottawa 
office, Jeannie Smith, joined with a cross section of the Consort community 
for a beef supper/information session organized by the Consort & District 
Chamber of Commerce. Gathering at the Sportex Hall to hear Mr. Sorenson's 
address were representatives from town council, local business people and 
those involved in farming and ranching, as well as interested individuals.

Following supper, Sorenson talked across a wide expanse of issues facing 
Canadians, BSE receiving the most attention. He praised the Alberta 
government's response and the steps they have taken to bolster consumer 
confidence in Alberta beef (enhanced testing and new facilities). He was, 
however, less enthusiastic of the federal governments' course of action, 
criticising the emotional response given in the second BSE case; that of 
bad mouthing the Americans and damaging relations with our largest trading 
partner. Sorenson also points to decay in relations with the United States 
in reference to the dilemmas in our soft lumber and commercial fishing 
industries. He suggested that recovery for the cattle industry hinges as 
much on amending our relations with the US as it does on the science being 
applied to BSE.

Mr. Sorenson also touched on the increase of violence and crime we are 
seeing in all parts of Canada. What has been a primarily urban problem is 
beginning to seep out of the cities and is a growing concern in rural areas 
as well. Citing under-funding of the RCMP as the biggest obstacle in 
curbing the trend, he estimated that in Alberta alone we are short by 
approximately 200 personel. While violence and criminal activity boom, 
funding has remained at much the same level since the 1980's. He suggested 
that some of the cash spent on gun registration would have more impact on 
criminal activity if directed to policing.

A federal design to supply heroin addicts with free drugs, clean needles 
and drug centres was also slammed by Sorenson before he was through his speech.

Sorenson opened the floor to questions and the monopoly of the Canadian 
Wheat Board was quickly offered up for discourse. While not condeming the 
existence of the board, Sorenson stated the need for competition in all 
business and suggested that if the Wheat Board is as potent and vital as it 
claims to be, then it should have no quarrel with accepting competiton in 
the market. His principal complaint with the board is that while it may be 
farmer run, it is definitely government driven. Mr. Sorenson briefly 
discussed the new Conservative Party of Canada and expressed his enthusiasm 
for their future. When asked about when we could expect an election, he 
offered that his best guess would be that by early May we could be heading 
to the polls.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom