Feds’ pot legalization could be delayed beyond July 1 deadline
Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor says Ottawa could delay legalizing recreational marijuana for months after necessary legislation is passed into law to allow lower orders of government more time to set up new retail facilities and production channels. “They told us they need eight to 12 weeks following royal assent for preparatory activities to occur, […]
Opposition urges feds not to rush ‘omnibus’ national security bill through House
Eschewing second-reading debate on Bill C-59 in the House of Commons for immediate committee study provides for more flexibility to make changes to the national security bill, according to the government, but opposition critics say the Liberals are still looking to rush what they’re calling “omnibus” legislation through the chamber. “It’s a bit strange. I […]
How our plan to legalize cannabis will strengthen health, justice, and public safety
The current approach of cannabis prohibition has failed to protect our communities and our youth. Canadian youth use cannabis at rates that are amongst the highest in the world. Our latest survey indicates that 21 per cent of teens aged 15-19 and 30 per cent of young adults aged 20-24 reported using cannabis in the […]
Government falling behind on cannabis public education, say critics
Health Canada says it will launch a national public education advertising campaign on cannabis in the spring, though critics say it should have already been in place in order to educate the public ahead of the July 1 legalization deadline. The impaired driving campaign run by Public Safety,“Don’t Drive High”, has been popping up in […]
Cannabis
Trudeau should offer better explanation for meeting Boyle, otherwise he looks ‘foolish,’ House should launch review of PMO screening process, say political players
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should reveal all the facts surrounding his now controversial meeting with former Afghan captive Joshua Boyle last month on the Hill because without a clear explanation the prime minister looks “foolish,” say political players, who also say the House should launch an inquiry to review the PMO’s screening process. “I don’t […]
PMO must open up more about Boyle affair, Trudeau’s judgment rightly questioned
OTTAWA—Who thought the Showtime hit drama Homeland was fiction? Because it seems we now have a copycat program playing out for real in Canada. Yes, the Joshua Boyle-Justin Trudeau meeting and the subsequent charges laid against Boyle have the feel of life imitating art. The oddity of Joshua Boyle and his lived experience has been […]
We need to ignore most jihadi propaganda
In the lead up to New Year’s a lot of people were very nervous that festivities would be interrupted by a terrorist attack. To be fair, the fear was not completely unfounded as last year’s celebration in Turkey a gunmen opened fire in an Istanbul nightclub killing 39 and wounding more than 70. Some states […]
War with an ‘ism’ is a bad idea
OTTAWA—Last week, I was invited to a conference in the U.K. hosted by the Henry Jackson Society, a U.S.-U.K. think tank that looks at a variety of issues. At this particular conference, entitled “A wake-up call for all: creating a trans-Atlantic network to battle radical Islam,” there was a host of speakers from both sides […]
Lessons for a new RCMP commissioner
PARLIAMENT HILL—The federal government is seeking a new commissioner for the RCMP. Canada’s national police force needs new management and, last June, former New Brunswick premier Frank McKenna was tasked with developing a short list for the prime minister. Prospective candidates be warned: this will not be an easy job. Before accepting the position, any […]
