Pompo

Green Party smokes 'em at debate
Tobique-Mactaquac federal riding candidates discuss the issues in public forum at Woodstock High School
10/10/08|BugleObserver.com| by Shawn Merrithew

The hopes of major party candidates to win the hearts of local youth went up in smoke with one question.

With the federal election less than a week away, the four federal party representatives for Tobique-Mactaquac took part in an all-candidate's debate on Tuesday morning, hosted by Woodstock High School's political science class.

The candidates fielded questions from the four-member panel, but the topic which generated the greatest heat among the predominately high-school-aged audience was the legalization of marijuana.

The Green Party's Mark Glass drew the loudest response, with his straight-forward answer, saying, "We legalize it, we regulate it and we tax it."

Glass's popularity among the audience was measured by more than applause. He also garnered the majority of votes cast by students exiting the debate. Glass took control with 81 votes, with Allen coming in second with 40. Finnamore 18 and McGrath 14.

Whether the marijuana question alone earned Glass the strong support, it certainly didn't hurt. Several students also noted they were impressed with the Green Party candidate during his visit to the school. All candidates dropped by the school at some point during the campaign at the invitation of Richard Blaquiere's political science class.

In his response to the marijuana question, Glass noted gambling, alcohol and tobacco – all considered harmful to society – are legal substances. The government allows their sale and collects the taxes, he said.

He said government should take a step away from morality and use some common sense, noting it sees few results from the millions of dollars spent trying to bust grow-ops and trafficking rings. They would be better off selling it and collecting taxes, he said.

"It would generate $1.5 billion in real money," he said. "We take it off the streets and put it back into society."

While New Democratic Party candidate Alice Finnamore agreed with her Green Party opponent, her response didn't seem to register as strongly with the audience.

Finnamore noted today's marijuana contains more chemicals than it did when she was younger – although she quickly pointed out she didn't try it – but, Canada does not have enough police or court time to control its sale or use.

Legalizing it, she said, would not only save tax dollars, but would free up the justice system to concentrate on more important criminal activity.

"That is why the New Democrats support the legalization of marijuana," Finnamore said.

Liberal candidate Sally McGrath opposes legalization, saying marijuana induces psychotic states and is dangerous.

"A party that would legalize that, regardless of the financial incentives, would be foolish," McGrath said. "We cannot legalize drugs that cause psychotic states, we just can't do that."

Tory incumbent Mike Allen also pointed to health issues as a concern. However, he questioned the benefit of giving someone a criminal record for being in possession of a joint. He also saw potential for medical use of cannabis.

"But, at the end of the day, it would not be our party's position to legalize marijuana,"explained Allen.

The candidates also demonstrated stark differences on environment policy.

Allen dismissed the Kyoto Protocol agreement, signed in 1997, saying Canada has fallen too far behind. Since then, he noted, emissions have climbed by 35 per cent.

"Now is the time we have to turn the corner and take real action on climate change," Allen said.

He explained the Conservatives plan to reduce greenhouse gases by 20 per cent by 2020 and by 60 to 70 per cent by 2050. He acknowledged those numbers were based on 2006 levels, not the 1990 levels cited in the Kyoto Accord, saying the government can't catch up on the lost ground.

Finnamore said the NDP believes in creating a greener Canada and would do so through its five-point greener strategy – greener homes, greener communities, greener transportation, greener industries and a greener Canada.

She said Prime Minister Stephen Harper can't be trusted on the environment.

"Mr. Harper abandoned Canada's Kyoto targets and tabled three failed green air plans, which exposed us to worse environmental climate changing pollution for years to come," Finnamore explained. "He gave more breaks to big polluters. He cut spending on energy conservation targets but renewed $1.4 billion in annual subsidy to the companies who are polluting our country, and he added $50 billion to corporate-tax giveaways."

Finnamore also took aim at the Liberals.

"They may say they have something wonderful and new for us, but they don't," Finnamore said. "What we intend to do is bring in a cap-and-trade system that will make the big polluters pay and use the proceeds from that to pay for environmental changes."

Speaking after Finnamore on the environment question, McGrath defended the Liberal Green Shift.

Noting oil is a non-renewable energy source, she said, Canadians need to get off their dependence on it. She said the Green Shift will encourage energy efficiency and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

"By taxing carbon, it will encourage technology changes," McGrath said.

She said the plan also returns money to Canadians through income tax reductions. She added families with an income of $20,000 or less, which don't pay tax, will receive $2,500 as a direct payment. Families making $60,000 would receive a $1,200 tax break.

"This will ensure individual Canadians don't suffer and those who are more economical will benefit," McGrath added.

Glass took a different approach to the issue. He quizzed the audience asking if they would buy a Smart Car or a Cadillac Escalade. Most responded Smart Car, although the word Escalade could be heard rising from the seats.

Glass also expressed disappointment that many students drove their own vehicles to school, but said he understands why.

"You bring your own car because it is convenient, but it is not right," said Glass. "We have got to change, and the Green Party is a vote for the future, a vote for change. We have policies and ideas to change the way we use energy. All of you have to think that way, and you all have to start thinking about everyone else, not just yourselves, for a better future."

On the issue of employment, all four agreed to the importance of local job creation. None, however, offered specific measures. Allen cited major projects – such as a second oil refinery in Saint John, a Point LePreau nuclear plant refurbishment, major highway projects and the potential opening of resource mining – could deliver future job opportunities.

The final question of the debate surrounded the issue of trust. Each candidate acknowledged politicians are ranked near the bottom of the trustworthy list.

"People don't like politicians because they talk out of both sides of their mouths and off the top of their heads," said Glass. "We don't do what we say, and we don't seem to mean it."

He turned to Green leader Elizabeth May as an example of an honest politician.

"In the debate over the weekend, Elizabeth May gave honest answers to good questions, and I believe we don't promise things to get your vote ... I think the Green Party will change the way you think about politicians."

Allen said trust begins at the local level, suggesting Canadians elect people they believe they can trust.

Finnamore said she got involved in politics because she was tired of all the broken promises. While the NDP have never had a chance to govern, she said, it has strived to keep its promises.

McGrath pointed to what she called "despicable" lies circulating in the current campaign as a reason the public doesn't trust politicians. She, too, cited her leader, Stephane Dion, as an honest politician. Like him, she said, "she will not change, and she will always tell the truth, whether people want to hear it or not."

SpiralArchitect

Pretty awesome, but I doubt the rest of Canada has the same devotion and respect for the Green Party as a High School PoliSci class. He makes some strong points, but from what I understand, the Green Party is largely a fringe party in the Canadian political scene, but I could be wrong, I know very little about Canadian politics.

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Mikeebud

Yeah, Because unless your in a Politics class, You don't actually learn the real thread and needles of politics, Only go by whats on tv, This years election is sad, There more focused on cutting each other up in public, rather then trying to Boom the economy, being enviro friendly (I know about the green shift).

But yeah, I can't stand harper, the guys a douche, Hes like George Bush is so many ways it's ridiculous that hes the PM.

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Durden

They are gaining seriously popularity here recently. So far everyone I've talked to is either voting Green or NDP which is a nice change from the usual jerks. They are pretty much a "fringe party" and neither party will be in power after the election, but their growing popularity is getting some more talks about environment and legalization in all political groups, which is about time.

frolic

This is how you do it. You get everyone working on the same team. We, the few who contribute to this forum, come from vastly different places with lives and backgrounds that have little simulation. Still, we talk, debate, compare, argue and share one thing we all have in common - marijuana. We all work a little or a lot to legalize the herb. Best of all we contribute here and keep it interesting.

sthuuupp . . .Ahh!!

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Durden

I miss Chretien cause he would openly make fun of Bush and wasn't his little sidekick like Harper.

It looks like Harper's going to stay in power according to polls so far and the Bloc Quebecois is going to own Quebec as usual. This time of year french canadians tend to hate us anglos a bit more too cause the Bloc Quebecois tells them how we're stealing their heritage away from them...you'd think people would be talking about unity by now.

Oh well, should be another minority government and I hear the liberals have talked about legalizing marijuana as well so that'd make 3 of the major 4 pushing for it in a minority gov. the pressure is building my friends.

RoadTrippin

I can't wait to see the great migration of people from the US to Canada if they ever legalize it. I'm only 200 miles away, I'd pick up and move in a heartbeat.

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