BC Liberal PartyMay 4, 2009
STOP THE NDP For Immediate Release
The NDP must come clean on their true position on legalizing drugs in British Columbia, says Vancouver-Kensington BC Liberal candidate Syrus Lee.
"Vancouver-Fraserview NDP candidate Gabriel Yiu has been engaged in a dishonest campaign on the issue of legalizing marijuana at the same time he is hiding his own party's support for the idea," says Lee. "We now know that Carole James and the NDP have been on record as supporters of the legal use of marijuana since 2006. It’s time for James and Yiu to be honest and publically admit their support for legalization."
Lee is referring to a formal policy position adopted by the NDP at their last party convention, when they called for "the creation of an explicit cannabis policy based upon a non-punitive, regulatory approach, including support for a legal supply of cannabis."
In a stark contradiction, while appearing on a Vancouver radio show Friday morning, James said decriminalizing drugs was an issue that only “should be put on the table” for British Columbians to consider. Meanwhile, NDP candidate Gabriel Yiu has been spreading misinformation in the Chinese community on the BC Liberal position while maintaining his explicit opposition to any move toward legalizing drugs.
"The hypocrisy within the NDP campaign is being made apparent over and over again," says Lee. "For Gabriel Yiu to campaign on his opposition to legalizing drugs when his own party formally adopted the exact opposite position is the clearest evidence I can think of that the NDP is either confused or openly hypocritical."
This party resolution has been backed up by at least two of Carole James’ sitting MLAs:
- "I believe that the prohibitionist approach to drug policy as it relates to cannabis is causing more harm than good. Learning from history, we should acknowledge that legal, regulated access to cannabis would be better for our society." - Nicholas Simons, The Commonwealth, Vol. 66, No. 2, April-May 2006
- "[Legalizing and selling marijuana in stores] would take away a lot of the vice and stupidity around the drug." - Rob Fleming, Monday Magazine, May 29/03
Furthermore, James has specifically recruited candidates with proven records showing they are soft on crime. New Westminister candidate Dawn Black voted against Bill C-26, an act to amend the
Controlled Drugs and Substances Act on April 16, 2008. The Bill would have amended the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to provide for minimum penalties for serious drug offences, such as dealing drugs for organized crime purposes or when a weapon or violence is involved.
“It is time for Carole James, Gabriel Yiu and the others to stop trying to mislead voters and admit their support for legalizing marijuana,” says Lee. “British Columbians deserve honest answers, not a negative, false campaign. They should have the courage of their convictions and stop being dishonest.”
Contact:
Shane Mills, BC Liberal Party
604-648-4258