Rookie opposition MP’s bill could pass the Liberal-majority House
Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu knew the odds were stacked against her. It’s rare, she was told, for any private member’s bill to win approval, let alone one proposed by a rookie opposition MP in a majority Parliament. But she also saw an opportunity. Following the contentious debate over medically-assisted dying, Ms. Gladu (Sarnia-Lambton, Ont.) proposed […]
What you need to know about the government’s marijuana legislation
What is allowed under new Cannabis Act for Canadians aged 18 and up? Up to 30 grams of legal weed in public Sharing of 30 grams amongst adults Purchasing from a licensed retailer Dried, fresh cannabis, and cannabis oil (edibles coming later) Up to four plants as high 100 centimetres per residence Making edible cannabis products […]
Marijuana legalization presents both potential political risks and gains for Liberals, say insiders
There will be both “a lot of risk” and “a lot of reward” at stake for the Liberals in their plan to legalize recreational marijuana in Canada by the summer of 2018, say Hill insiders and political players. On the upside, the successful execution of a legalized regime in time for the next federal election will […]
Vox Populi on marijuana legalization
Greg MacEachern Senior vice-president at Environics Communications—interview with The Hill Times, April 19 “The challenge may be for the [next] election, where this is in terms of implementation and rollout, and sometimes in the early days—whether it’s the Affordable Care Act in the United States, or the Phoenix pay system—sometimes new systems do not roll out […]
An interfaith call for a palliative care strategy for Canada
Canada is overdue for a well-funded, national initiative to improve palliative care access and quality. An important first step is for Parliamentarians to vote for Bill C-277, introduced by MP Marilyn Gladu, which calls for the development of a pan-Canadian palliative care strategy. How a country cares for its most vulnerable reflects our national values […]
Keeping in place pot prohibition doesn’t add up
The Liberal government has finally revealed its highly anticipated plan to legalize marijuana, but it has done little to clear the smoke for recreational pot users. Seemingly more focused on easing concerns about high drivers, the Liberals’ legislative package is big on punishment, but seemingly indifferent to the real headaches confronting those currently sparking up. […]
Sunny haze descends on Liberals’ pot plans
MONTREAL—Justin Trudeau wants Canadians to see his plan to legalize marijuana as a massive government intervention to save the country’s youth from the perils of cannabis. “We want to make it more difficult for kids to access marijuana. That is why we are going to legalize and control marijuana,” the prime minister proclaimed in the […]
Pot promise put to the test
If he wants to avoid spending the 2019 campaign walking on the shards of yet another broken signature promise, Justin Trudeau has little choice but to make good on his promise to legalize marijuana in time for the next election. Of the many commitments the prime minister made on the way to his majority victory […]
Lobbyists ready to guide businesses through new frontier of legalized pot
There’s no Canadian precedent in modern times for the upcoming legalization of recreational marijuana, which is creating a completely new—and highly regulated—industry. Those who want to be part of it could use the help of lobbyists who know their way around government. The legalization of marijuana in Canada has created a specific need for government-relations […]
Bill S-201 and the power of the values question
Bill S-201: An Act to Prohibit and Prevent Genetic Discrimination, was, before its passing last week, the subject of intense lobbying by organizations both for and against. Foregrounded in these conversations was the bill’s removal of the power of insurance companies to require individuals to undergo genetic testing. Such a practice, as supporters of the […]
