Since 1923
Arrow Lakes News PAGE 6
PAGE 5
PAGE 7
50 0 1 6
FOX COACHES SAFETY
78195
LITERACY STRONG START
7
HOCKEY BEGINS
1
Vol. 89 Issue 40 • Wednesday, October 3, 2012 • www.arrowlakesnews.com • 250-265-3823 • $1.25
•
PM40036531
B.C. councils call for pot decriminalization By Tom Fletcher
Black Press
After a passionate debate and a close vote, delegates to the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention passed a motion calling on the federal government to decriminalize marijuana. The UBCM placed major emphasis on the debate this year, staging a debate Monday featuring former B.C. attorney general Geoff Plant, in favour of loosening pot laws, and University of the Fraser Valley criminologist Darryl Plecas opposed. After a lineup of speakers on the impact of marijuana grow ops on communities and crime impact, a show of hands by hundreds of delegates supported the call for decriminalization. Metchosin councillor Moralea Milne reminded delegates that Plant termed pot prohibition “a disastrous and expensive failure of public policy.” She said more than 500,000 B.C. residents have smoked marijuana, but she doesn’t support its use. “Personally I’d rather have a martini, and and I’m allowed to, because we changed that very wrong prohibition stance that we had,” Milne said.
Okanagan-Similkameen area director Tom Siddon, a former federal cabinet minister, said his local police reject decriminalization. “I think we’ve been frying too many brains,” Siddon said. “It’s going to aggravate the temptation of young people to move from marijuana, which may well be more harmless than a few bottles of beer, to being hooked on heroin, cocaine and the chemical designer drugs.” Prince George city councillor Brian Skakun drew laughter with his comment: “I tried it when I was younger, I turned out OK.” Turning serious, he said the costs extend to police and courts weighed down with marijuana cases rather than “real criminals.” Abbotsford councillor Henry Braun agreed with Siddon. “We produce about 1.5 million pounds of marijuana in British Columbia,” Braun said. “We consume about 185,000 pounds, so the vast majority of marijuana is being exported to the U.S. and other places.” Port Moody councillor Bob Elliott said his “quaint, safe city” has seen three gang-related murders in the past six months. He pleaded for support for decriminalization. Coquitlam councillor Terry O’Neill called
Metchosin Coun. Moralea Milne speaks to her motion to urge Ottawa to decriminalize marijuana at Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Victoria. TOM FLETCHER/BLACK PRESS
decriminalization “the worst of all worlds,” protecting people from simple possession charges while leaving large-scale growing and sales in the hands of criminals. Nelson councillor Robin Cherbo said sparing young recreational users from prosecution is worth it, and even outright legalization won’t stop the criminal trade as long as pot remains illegal in the U.S.
Cariboo Regional District director Joan Sorley reminded delegates that grow ops are destructive to communities and dangerous to police and fire departments. “They’re huge operations,” Sorley said. “If we decriminalize it, we take away the tool that the RCMP has to try and shut them down and help keep our neighbourhood safe.”
Nakusp councillor applauds UBCM vote By Claire Paradis Arrow Lakes News
NSS students are carrying the spirit of Terry Fox beyond just the one day run. CLAIRE PARADIS/ARROW LAKES NEWS
Fox continues to inspire By Ryan Willman
Special to the Arrow Lakes News
About thirty-five years ago a scrawny curly haired boy, just eighteen years old, stood in front of a local crowd in a bowling alley and thanked everyone for supporting his ambition to run across Canada. “Umm. Do you realize how big this country is?” This was the tongue in cheek response of teacher Pat Dion when he first heard Terry Fox
speak about his plan to run across the country during the fundraiser in their mutual hometown of Port Coquitlam. But what started off as playful skepticism turned into years of serious dedication to the Terry Fox run, which includes participating in the very first run held in Port Coquitlam. Mr. Dion was kind enough to share his bowling alley story and his enthusiasm for the
See story page 6
Nakusp councillor Joseph Hughes described the recent debate over decriminalization of marijuana at the 2012 Union of BC Municipalities convention as “interesting.” “One of the attendees brought up the issue of legalization rather than decriminalization, which was an interesting point,” said Hughes. UBCM voted in favour of decriminalization, however, not legalization, with a solid majority. “It was close,” Hughes said, “but it wasn’t close enough that we had to use our electronic voters.” So, with a show of hands, the resolution to call upon the appropriate governments to decriminalize marijuana passed. Councillor Hughes noted that the motion doesn’t mean that charges for possession, production and trafficking will end immediately. “We don’t make laws, but it forces the conversation to be had,” he said. Traditionally, part of the conversation
about marijuana is that it is a gateway drug that leads to the use of harder drugs, something Hughes is skeptical about. He also believes that decriminalization of pot could reduce the revenue-creating arsenal of illegal substances available to gangs and organized crime. “It won’t stop [gangsterism], but it will take that one drug out of their realm,” said Hughes. Ordinary people who use the drug therapeutically shouldn’t bear the burden of feeling like they’re criminals simply because they smoke pot, the councillor pointed out. “You have people in our community who have prescriptions for medical marijuana, and they feel like criminals, they feel ashamed,” he said. The Nakusp councillor believes that bureaucrats are lagging behind the general population in regards to attitude toward marijuana. “This is something our government is sitting on the fence about. As far as our society goes, it’s pretty accepted,” said Hughes about marijuana use.
Stay flexible. term deposits
TFSAs
profit sharing
RRSPs
Being flexible keeps you open to opportunity. Our Kootenay Saver term deposit is fully redeemable or transferable without penalty after 90 days. For great rates and flexibility, trust Kootenay Savings.
better. together.
kscu.com