All Liberal Party 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. The Liberal Party would not support the Bill C-26 as tabled by the government. Our concern was especially with regard to mandatory minimum sentence provisions that may not be proportionally appropriate for the stated offences. We supported rather sending the bill to committee – so that MPs may hear evidence from expert witnesses, and make amendments to strike a better balance between protecting youth and retaining proportionality in our sentencing regime. Only if with the necessary amendments at committee would the Liberal Party have support the bill at 3rd reading.

• Yes. The Liberal Party of Canada supports the continued operation of InSite To ignore scientifically-based proof of the effectiveness of harm reduction programs for sake of ideology – as the Conservative government has done – is not only irresponsible, but is playing politics with the lives of Canadians.

• Be decriminalized. The Liberal Party of Canada believes that while cannabis use should be discouraged, possession of small amounts should not result in a criminal record. We will continue to work towards a modern strategy that appropriately combines measures to discourage the use of marijuana by young Canadians with reasonable law enforcement strategies.

• As opposed to the Conservative government’s drug policy, which simply throws people in jail and treats those with drug dependencies as criminals, the Liberal Party believes in holistic approaches – including harm reduction programs and other forms of treatment.
• A Liberal government would recognize that harm reduction strategies should be encouraged and funded. Addiction is primarily a public health issue, not just a question of law and order. A real comprehensive drug strategy must include stable funding for realistic and proven prevention and treatment strategies.