A GROWING CONCERN

The Marijuana Party candidate for Surrey-Tynehead is facing a huge debt to
the federal government for income tax owed.

Don Briere was served papers by the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency this
week that force him to make good on more than $1.3 million in back taxes,
The Leader has learned.

A B.C. Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that the Minister of Revenue is
authorized to collect the money owed through any means available under the
Income Tax Act.

"Mr. (Donald) Briere currently owes more than $1.3 million in unpaid
personal income tax and related interest and penalties for 1996, 1997, 1998
and 1999 as a result of re-assessments issued on December 21st, 2000,"
Justice Bruce Harvey writes in his April 24 finding.

Contacted on his cell phone by The Leader on Friday, Briere said he had
just been served the court order to pay the outstanding taxes.

As the $1.3 million is for taxes alone, Briere's income would have had to
far exceeded that amount.

"It's going to have to be from (marijuana) grow-ops, I would assume,"
Briere said of his earnings.

Asked if he has the money to pay, Biere said, "Oh hell no. No way. I've
filed an objection."

The judge's reason for allowing the enforcement is that a "window of
opportunity" exists for Briere to dispose of his remaining assets, namely
his Surrey home.

"I accept that in the existing circumstances there are reasonable grounds
to believe that the respondent (Briere)... would waste, liquidate or
otherwise transfer his assets so as to become less able to pay the amount
assessed and thereby jeopardizing the Minister's debt," Harvey writes.

Briere insists the new information does not hurt his election chances in
Surrey-Tynehead.

"This is the whole reason why we're doing this," Briere said. "What did
they do with the bootleggers? As soon as alcohol was turned legal,
everybody was a legitimate businessman - and that's what I consider myself."