Pubdate: Sat, 23 Aug 2014
Source: Recorder & Times, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2014 Recorder and Times
Contact: http://www.recorder.ca/letters
Website: http://www.recorder.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2216
Author: Nick Gardiner
Page: A1

POT STANCE NOT LOCAL 'DETERRENT'

Area residents will be polled for their reaction to federal Liberal
policies prior to an election but riding president Ross Howard does
not foresee a backlash over leader Justin Trudeau's support for
legalizing marijuana.

"I don't believe his stance on marijuana and other policies are going
to be a deterrent," said Howard, one day after the riding's annual
general meeting in Brockville where two candidates, Kyle Johnston, 27,
and Josh Bennett, 38, were introduced to an audience of more than 100
people.

Howard said Trudeau has proven his local popularity during two visits
to Brockville before winning the party's leadership.

"We had quite a big rally at St. Lawrence College," said Howard,
referring to a February 2013 visit where Trudeau spoke with local high
school students.

Three months earlier during a more prolonged stop at the home of Dr.
Andy Jordan, whose father, the late Jim Jordan, and brother Joe held
the riding for a combined 18 years from 1988 to 2005, Trudeau
encountered an adoring crowd of supporters.

Candidate Johnston, of Spencerville cited Jim Jordan's leadership as
an asset to emulate because he reflected the will of the riding, even
if it conflicted with national policy.

"Jim Jordan was always there for the riding even i f that went against
the party," said Johnston.

But he did not dismiss Trudeau's support for legalizing pot and said
he intends to form a task force during the nomination process to
determine priority issues for the riding and ensure "we have a mandate
going into the election in 2015."

Fellow-candidate Bennett of Prescott said he believes there is "a lot
more support than would be expected" for legalizing marijuana and he
sees many advantages including the ability to regulate the drug and
reduce the influence of criminal gangs.

But Bennett maintains pot should not be available for young people
because there brains are still developing and vulnerable. Taxes from
legal sales could be used to fund education programs directed at
keeping young people from taking up the habit.

"I don't promote the smoking of marijuana, just like I don't promote
smoking tobacco or excessive drinking of alcohol. But they are legal
and regulated and I believe we can do the same with marijuana."

Bennett said his priorities for the riding include promoting tax
breaks to help attract industry from larger centres, creating teams of
politicians and business leaders to aggressively sell the region's
benefits to targetted firms and trade shows and bringing civility back
to politics.

Johnston has some similar objectives that include generating
"career-job creation rather than short-term jobs" and working with
political and business leaders to enhance the community's well-being.

"Governments don't create private sector jobs but we can create
opportunity," he said.

Rebuilding the Liberal brand in the riding is also key, Johnston said,
adding he will pursue economic development, affordable housing, access
to services and agriculture and tourism.

Riding president Ross Howard said the large turnout for the meeting is
encouraging.

While he and other senior executive members were returned to their
positions through acclamation, Howard noted the executive membership
was expanded with more representation from the outer regions of the
riding.

In a special presentation, Brockville lawyer Duncan Fraser was
presented with an honourary lifetime position as a director of the
riding association to recognize the decades of work for the Liberals
in Leeds and Grenville.
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MAP posted-by: Matt