4~- North Shore News - Wednesday, November 22, 2000 Dana Larsen yarijuana Party Place of residence: Gibsons Age: 29 Occupation: Editor of Cannabis Culture Magazine Family: One daughter. Quality and accessibitity of health-care services: “Canada’s health-care system woul.! greatly benefit from legalized marijuana. A recent survey by Canada’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health found that half a million Canadians cur- rently use cannabis for med- ica! purposes. Cannabis is beneficial for a wide variety of ailments, and if it were legalized; it could be used by even more of those in need. Why are we forcing Canadians to use expensive and ineffective pharmaceuti- _ cal drugs when many would “prefer to use cannabis?” Protecting the environment: ‘” “Cannabis hemp is interna- tionally recognized as an environmentally friendly source of pulp tor paper, as well as fibre for fabrics and seeds for food and oil. Yet federal regulations handcuff farmers with unnecessarily * expensive testing and restric- =,, tions on THC levels, making it difficult for them to capi- ‘- talize on this lucrative crop. Legalizing marijuana would allow farmers to grow cannabis without over-regu- lation.” a "Fax reduction: “Currently Canada spends between $1- 2 billion annually to track ‘down, arrest and imprison =/Marijuana smokers and ~. growers. Further, Canada is : Missing out on about $20-30 ~ billion dollars in potential -tax revenues from legalized marijuana.” © ~ Representing B.C. interests in Ottawa: “Marijuana is the number one cash crop in B.Cz and well over two- : thirds of British Columbians want pot legalized.” :.. . . - Ye Patricia Wheeler Contributing Writer HEALTH CARE, taxes, capital punish- ment, abortion and the decriminalization of marijuana were among the issues raised at an all-candidates meeting of West Vancouver- Sunshine Coast federal candidates earlier this week. The seven candidates — tive men and wo women — were on hand at the Chateau Whistler Resort to introduce themselves and answer ques- tions raised by their con- stituents Monday night. It was standing room only as the candidates, representing the Green, PC, Canadian Action — Party, Canadian Alliance, Liberal, NDP and Marijuana parties, squared otf, Incumbent Canadian Alliance MP John Reynolds was the first to address the group, “There are avo main Issues in this election,” he said. “Health care and taxes. The Canadian Alliance does not want a two-tier system and we are. committed to putting money back into health care.” Reynolds said the Alliance has a health-care plan that would see each province knowing five years in advance how many federal health-care dollars they would be receiv- ing. “Everyone in this province has a problem with health care,” he said. “It’s not the fault of the provinces ... it’s because of the federal govern- ment.” Marc Bombois, of the Canadian = Action __ Party, explained his party’s platform. “We are oa coalition of Canadians fighting to end the annexation of Canada by the United States. We want Canada to get out of the Free Trade agreement ... it has been a disaster, These agreements are not trade agreements, they are investment: agreements.” Bombois. of Squamish, said his party is “not anti-America, but pro-Canada.” He added that he believes Canada will be annexed by the U.S. in only a few shert years. Bombois also said his party is “comunitted to getting rid of the GST." For the Marijuana Party's Dana Larsen, there is only one issuc in this election — the decriminalization of marijua- na. “We have 73 people run- ning (for the party) across Canada,” said Larsen. “We represent the three million people in Canada who enjoy marijuana on a regular basis.” Larsen said legalizing mari- juana would help solve the health-care crisis and would pump billions of dollars of rev- enue into the federal coffers. “We are missing out on $20- 30 billion in tax revenue from the legalization of marijuana,” he said. “Two-thirds of Canadians back the legaliza- tion of marijuana in one way or another and we are sick and tired of being treated like criminals. If you elect me, 1 promise you, I will single- handedly legalize marijuana in this country.” Telis Sawvaidis is the NDP candidate for West Vancouver- Sunshine Coast and he told constituents he would repre- sent their interests in Ottawa. “We all need one thing from you — to make an edu- cated vote.” Savvaidis said health care, the environment and child poverty are impor- Next to the liquor store (inside). at Lynn Valley Centre * Auto * Business* Tenants * Home | Sa, We want to be your insurance broker!! Mon. - Fri. 9am - 9pm / Sat. 9am - 6pm : Sun. 12pm - Spin. COUVER:,’ 235337 “Gf. issue ae :- NEWS photo Mike Wakeflaid WEST Vancouver-Sunshine Coast Alliance candidate John Reynolds joined can- didates at a meeting last week for students at West Vancouver secondary school. | tant issues, “It's time we took a stand in Canada ... like in the 70s and 60s when peuple really cared about issues ... if we don’t take a stand now, in four years or eight years, where will we be,” he asked. “What are we actually voting for this time —- our sovereignty or money?” Tan McKay, the Libera! candidate and the person whom many view as Reynolds* main challenger, said he is proud to represent this riding. McKay — defended party's health-care position and highlighted the Liberals’ reduced debt. McKay said tax- cuts proposed by the Canadian Alliance party are “unreason- able, unaffordable and unfair.” Jane Bishop, of Roberts Creek, represents the Green his Party. A doctor, she said the Green Party has “a fot more depth and breadth than many people are aware.” She talked about a national park in the Elaho but said her “main pas- sion” is health care. “On the Sunshine Coast we have a hospital in danger of being downgraded to a first- aid centre,” she said. “We already have ewo-tier health care in this country ... the poor people already know about two-tier health care in a differ-" *- ent way ... they can’t afford to gavel or to pay for the ser- vices.” : ae Kate Manvell, PC. candi-:. date, said the Progressive ‘ Conservative Party has a plan- for Canada, “to restore pur- ~ pose and to govern with - integrity.” She said a PC gov-" © ernment would restore federal . ' transfer payments” to ~ - See Candidates page S _ oS Bist pate ad 1 3 OW, Lube & Filttor iy woragy.” 21 pt. Safety check, 15 minutes - FAST! 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