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New Democratic Party of Canada |
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All NDP Candidates
Bill C-26 is a bill tabled by the Conservative government that received its first reading in February of 2008. It proposes mandatory minimum sentences for the production and trafficking of various controlled substances, including cannabis, methamphetamines, cocaine and heroin. These minimums begin at six months for production of 1-200 cannabis plants and extend up to three years for offenses involving heroin, cocaine and methamphetamines. The bill has now received two readings and was before the justice committee prior to the election call. How would you vote on Bill C-26 if it were to come before the House for a final reading? - Opposed. We feel that a heavy-handed US style war-on-drugs only serves to create a culture of fear and will not make our communities any safer. History and reality shows us, this heavy handed reliance on law enforcement is not only a failure; it is a colossal failure, economically, socially, and culturally.
Are you in favour of the continued operation of Insite, Vancouver’s safe injection facility? - Yes. Canada’s New Democrats have been very supportive of harm reduction programs such as Insite in Vancouver. Libby Davies and other New Democrat MP’s have supported Insite in public forums throughout the country and in the House of Commons. This will not change.
In your opinion, the possession of marijuana for recreational use should (choose one):
a. remain criminalized b. be decriminalized c. be legalized
- Be decriminalized. Canada's New Democrats are the only major national party that actually has a resolution and a policy for decriminalization of marijuana. Decriminalization, we believe, is a first step, but it is not the only step. It is a first step to what needs to be an open debate about the failure of the current practices and the need to focus on the real issues such as: avoiding needless criminalization of citizens; and working with youth on health and social effects - particularly impaired driving.
What steps should the government take to help those for whom illegal drug use has become a problem?
- With Jack Layton as Prime Minister, a New Democrat government would invest in the expansion of drug and alcohol addiction and prevention programs – including harm reduction programs – in partnership with the provinces and territories. We would also study new and more effective and targeted forms of treatment for meth addiction.
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