Pubdate: Thu, 14 Aug 2014
Source: London Free Press (CN ON)
Copyright: 2014 The London Free Press
Contact: http://www.lfpress.com/letters
Website: http://www.lfpress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/243
Author: Jane Sims
Page: B2
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?196 (Emery, Marc)

Questions and Answers: Marc Emery May Want to Strike Down Canada's 
Marijuana Laws, but the Justice Minister Says the Government Wants to 
Give Police 'More Ability ... to Enforce the Law'

NO PLAN TO DECRIMINALIZE POT, MACKAY INSISTS

Federal Justice Minister Peter MacKay landed in the Prince of Pot's 
hometown Wednesday and made it clear his government won't loosen 
marijuana laws.

MacKay, in London for a community roundtable on justice issues, made 
his government's position on pot clear the day after activist Marc 
Emery's return to Canada after serving time in a U.S. jail for 
selling marijuana seeds

MacKay answered media -questions on a wide range of -topics:

Q: Marc Emery said he is now going to actively campaign for reforms 
of the marijuana laws. What are your thoughts about this and Emery's 
return to Canada?

We do not favour legalization, we do not favour decriminalization. We 
are looking at various options that would give police more ability, 
in fact, to enforce the law, in a way that's fair, in a way that 
reflects the reality. It is our intention to continue to uphold the 
law that does not allow the proliferation of drug use and marijuana.

Q: (Former Canada Food Inspection Agency scientist) Klaus Neilson has 
just pleaded guilty in court today in Ottawa for smuggling into China 
bacteria that could be turned into a vaccine for a cow disease called 
brucellosis. His accomplice, Wei Ling Yu, is still wanted on a 
Canada-wide warrant and believed to be in China. What is the status 
of that investigation into her?

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency . . . is co-operating very 
closely with the RCMP and their investigation. (The agency has) also 
recently taken more proactive steps to improve their security. With 
respect to outstanding warrants of individuals . . . I'm not at 
liberty to say more.

Q: What do you hope to accomplish at today's round-table?

This is an opportunity to get important community and individual 
feedback on . . . a range of other criminal justice initiatives 
including impaired driving, including subjects that pertain to 
violence, cyberbullying, sexual violence against women.

Q: Are there changes you want to explore in terms of the proposed 
prostitution legislation?

I think we have it right . . . in a way that recognizes the 
individual community and protective elements and . . . puts the focus 
on those who are most vulnerable: those who are being exploited, 
those who bear the brunt and misery of that exploitative relationship 
that so often exists when it comes to prostitution and going after 
those who are almost entirely responsible.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom