cannabisnews.com: Controversial Bills Unlikely To Get Passed





Controversial Bills Unlikely To Get Passed
Posted by CN Staff on September 13, 2003 at 08:52:24 PT
By Campbell Clark
Source: Globe and Mail 
Ottawa -- The federal government held out little hope yesterday that it will pass a law to decriminalize marijuana this fall, indicating the two most controversial projects of Jean Chrétien's last months as Prime Minister will probably be passed on to Paul Martin's regime.Government House Leader Don Boudria acknowledged yesterday that the marijuana bill is unlikely to make it through Parliament this fall and said it is not likely that the government will move up the planned vote on a bill to legalize same-sex marriage.
The last parliamentary session of Mr. Chrétien's tenure opens Monday, with a legislative agenda dominated by a drive to clean up old business, rather than initiate new policy.Mr. Boudria said he would like to have the pot bill passed by the end of the fall session, but suggested that is unlikely."Can we have a vote, the committee [hearings], bring it back to the House at report stage, and have third reading? The bill is beginning," he said. "My goal is to get it as far as possible."He gave little hope to MPs who want a quick fall vote on the bill to legalize same-sex marriage, saying it is not likely that the government will bring the bill before Parliament before the Supreme Court rules on its legality. That will not happen until at least next year."I don't see us moving with legislation until the Supreme Court has pronounced itself, and that's probably not going to happen very shortly," Mr. Boudria said.Mr. Boudria said that he is planning for a fall session that will continue to mid-December, weeks after a new Liberal leader is to be chosen, and insisted that will not exacerbate internal Liberal divisions. "New leader or not, it's still the Liberal Party that remains in power," he said.Mr. Boudria acknowledged that one bill derided by Mr. Martin, the First Nations Governance Act, is "stalled in the House" and said he would consult the opposition on its future.Mr. Boudria is largely left shepherding a series of old bills, with only a few additions. Priority would be given to a new bill to speed up changes to the electoral map, which would make it easier for Mr. Martin to call a spring election; and to pushing ahead a bill to create a parliamentary ethics commissioner.New bills to be introduced include changes to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's powers; new veterans' legislation; and a bill establishing the minimum conditions for a group running election candidates to be listed as a political party.Mr. Chrétien's government does face a possible back-bench backlash on at least one bill: the controversial one to regulate reproductive technology, which would prohibit human cloning and regulate practices such as embryonic stem-cell research.As many as 30 Liberal backbenchers have lined up against the bill, in addition to the opposition -- enough to defeat it.Mr. Boudria insisted the government will not hold a free vote, which would allow Liberal MPs to vote as they see fit. "It's government legislation. It's not a free vote."However, Liberal MP Paul Szabo said he believes the Liberal backbenchers would still vote against it, and the government can pass it only if they split the bill in two pieces or make a deal with the opposition.If they do make a deal with the opposition, the bill will be stalled in the Senate, Mr. Szabo predicted. "I would be very surprised if it [passed]."Note: Same-sex marriage, decriminalizing pot expected to be handed to Martin regime.Complete Title: Controversial Bills Unlikely To Get Passed, Boudria SaysSource: Globe and Mail (Canada)Author:  Campbell ClarkPublished: Saturday, September 13, 2003 - Page A7 Copyright: 2003 The Globe and Mail CompanyContact: letters globeandmail.caWebsite: http://www.globeandmail.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmMarijuana Laws Struck Down in British Columbia http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17293.shtmlJudge Allows Marijuana Ruling To Standhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16592.shtmlMarijuana Legal in Ontario http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16326.shtmlNo Laws Ban Possession of Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16321.shtml 
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #4 posted by Jose Melendez on September 14, 2003 at 08:10:03 PT
Controversial Bill Passed
I think a few here will get a kick out of this one:http://www.thesmokinggun.com/doc_o_day/doc_o_day.html?yhnws
Forged Bush Bill
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by Virgil on September 14, 2003 at 05:51:26 PT
Good news might not travel fast
The news of this and the UK correction to a more sane policy will make it to everyone eventually and they will wonder why they did not hear it on the news. There was a well circulated quote made concerning Korea that said the misadministration did not have a policy toward North Korea. It had an attitude. The same might well be said in regards to laughing grass. The criminal cabal that rules the country has no policy to deal with substance abuse, but it sure has an attitude toward cannabis. Think of the children and crack down on the third of high school students who take up the tobacco habit. Get real and don't forget to say sugar water is worse than cannabis and that jail is worse than cannabis and that a criminal record is worse than cannabis and that the black market prices are worse than Free Cannabis. People do not buy the bullshit. You cannot give it away. Stop the goddamned bullshit and get real. I think there is one thing I forgot to say about Cannabis Prohibition. Cannabis Prohibition is stupid. In bumpersticker form: Cannabis Prohibition- It's the stupidity, stupid
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #2 posted by afterburner on September 13, 2003 at 09:57:38 PT:
My Thoughts Exactly
Keep it legal. First, Ontario; then, PEI; then, Nova Scotia; and now BC. The dominos are falling. The Summer of Legalization is sprouting. Now, let the mass media know the truth of de facto legalization since the decrim/recrim bill is likely stillborn. Let the people know the truth.ego transcendence follows ego destruction, shout it from the rooftops!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by WolfgangWylde on September 13, 2003 at 09:22:22 PT
All of which...
...simply paves the way for the Supreme Court to legalize. Bravo.
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment