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B.C. Marijuana Party candidate Norm Siefken says he's taking up the
challenge made by B.C. liberal candidate John Les to raise political debate
to a new high in the Chilliwack-Sumas riding.
"I've accepted that challenge, and I'm certainly looking forward to it,"
says Mr. Siefken, who announced his candidacy after a party founding
meeting in Gibsons, B.C.
Brian Taylor, former mayor of Grand Forks, was elected party leader at the
meeting, which Mr. Siefken described as a "who's who of marijuana
activists" in B.C.
But legalization of pot is not the new provincial political party's sole
campaign issue. Mr. Siefken says the party will unveil a "wide-ranging"
election platform next week that seeks to reverse the trend toward more
government control over citizen' personal lives.
Among the highlights: -The end of law enforcement and criminal penalties
for adults using or cultivating cannabis;
-licensing brothels to end street prostitution;
-a school "voucher" system allowing families more choice in education;
-replacing B.C.'s referendum act with an initiative law like Oregon or Alaska;
-emphasizing restorative justice and victims rights;
-expanding access to alternative medicine while improving B.C.'s healthcare
system.
The party which picked up 65,000 votes in the November federal election,
hopes to run candidates in all 79 provincial electoral ridings.
Mr. Les, the B.C. Liberal candidate in Chilliwack-Sumas, said earlier that
he believes the new party will be little more than a "comic sideshow"
because drug laws are a federal issue.
Newshawk: Mountainman
Pubdate: Sat, 20 Jan 2001
Source: Chilliwack Progress (CN BC)
Copyright: 2001 The Chilliwack Progress
Contact: editor@theprogress.com
Address: 45860 Spadina Ave., Chilliwack, BC, Canada V2P 6H9
Fax: (604) 792-4436
Feedback: Chilliwack Progress Contact Us | Chilliwack News
Website: Home - Chilliwack Progress
Page: 6
Author: Robert Freeman, Staff Writer
challenge made by B.C. liberal candidate John Les to raise political debate
to a new high in the Chilliwack-Sumas riding.
"I've accepted that challenge, and I'm certainly looking forward to it,"
says Mr. Siefken, who announced his candidacy after a party founding
meeting in Gibsons, B.C.
Brian Taylor, former mayor of Grand Forks, was elected party leader at the
meeting, which Mr. Siefken described as a "who's who of marijuana
activists" in B.C.
But legalization of pot is not the new provincial political party's sole
campaign issue. Mr. Siefken says the party will unveil a "wide-ranging"
election platform next week that seeks to reverse the trend toward more
government control over citizen' personal lives.
Among the highlights: -The end of law enforcement and criminal penalties
for adults using or cultivating cannabis;
-licensing brothels to end street prostitution;
-a school "voucher" system allowing families more choice in education;
-replacing B.C.'s referendum act with an initiative law like Oregon or Alaska;
-emphasizing restorative justice and victims rights;
-expanding access to alternative medicine while improving B.C.'s healthcare
system.
The party which picked up 65,000 votes in the November federal election,
hopes to run candidates in all 79 provincial electoral ridings.
Mr. Les, the B.C. Liberal candidate in Chilliwack-Sumas, said earlier that
he believes the new party will be little more than a "comic sideshow"
because drug laws are a federal issue.
Newshawk: Mountainman
Pubdate: Sat, 20 Jan 2001
Source: Chilliwack Progress (CN BC)
Copyright: 2001 The Chilliwack Progress
Contact: editor@theprogress.com
Address: 45860 Spadina Ave., Chilliwack, BC, Canada V2P 6H9
Fax: (604) 792-4436
Feedback: Chilliwack Progress Contact Us | Chilliwack News
Website: Home - Chilliwack Progress
Page: 6
Author: Robert Freeman, Staff Writer