Pubdate: Sat, 19 Sep 2015
Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB)
Copyright: 2015 Winnipeg Free Press
Contact: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/send_a_letter
Website: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502
Author: Tamsyn Burgmann
Page: A11

BAYWATCH ACTRESS NO FAN OF HARPER

VANCOUVER - Canadian actress Pamela Anderson prompted laughs from 
starry-eyed fans when she quipped she would never vote for 
Conservative Leader Stephen Harper.

But she quickly switched to a serious tone and said citizens should 
keep climate change top of mind when they go to the polls Oct. 19, 
calling it "the most important issue to anybody in the whole world."

"Harper doesn't have a good track record with that (issue)," she said 
Friday to explain her opinion.

"I think it's our decade's most important issue to deal with, and 
putting the environment ahead of the economy, I know, is a difficult choice."

When asked on the campaign trail earlier this month why he hasn't 
addressed climate change, Harper said he believes the two major 
issues are the economy and security.

The party's policy sets a target of reducing carbon emissions by 30 
per cent from 2005 levels by 2030, which Harper has said goes further 
than any government in Canadian history.

The former Baywatch star and model from Ladysmith, B.C., was in 
Vancouver to release her new book of poetry and photographs called Raw.

The 48-year-old, who calls herself a "small-town Canadian girl," used 
the appearance to weigh in on the election, the environment, 
marijuana legalization and B.C.'s wolf cull.

Anderson can't vote in Canada because she has lived abroad for more 
than five years. The rule dates back to the 1993 Canada Elections 
Act. Anderson is a dual citizen of Canada and the United States.

The actress, who's known for her activism, told a news conference she 
calls upon her "really smart friends" to determine her positions on 
the issues she promotes.

"I have 20 people, if I'm writing a letter or I'm doing anything, I 
get their input," she said.

She said the proliferation of medical-marijuana dispensaries in 
Vancouver illustrates Canada may be "coming around" to her view that 
pot should be legalized.

"I think it would be great for B.C.," she said, noting its importance 
for medical users.

Anderson said she doesn't smoke marijuana herself because she doesn't 
think being hungry, paranoid or tired is fun.

She reiterated her opposition to B.C.'s wolf cull after writing an 
open letter to Premier Christy Clark earlier this week. The letter 
called for a better solution to saving endangered caribou than the 
slaughter of wolves.

"It's a very cowardly way to hunt, especially from helicopters," she 
said. "I believe nothing good has ever come from a gun."

She drew laughs again when she lauded American singer Miley Cyrus, 
who has also criticized the wolf cull.

"I'm excited that Miley is interested in other things than herself," 
Anderson said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom