KLEIN BLASTS PLAN TO EASE POT LAWS

'Abandon Any Notion of Decriminalization,' Premier Tells Feds

CALGARY - Alberta Premier Ralph Klein said Friday that Ottawa should
scrap its move to decriminalize pot after four RCMP officers were shot
dead at a marijuana grow operation northwest of Edmonton.

Police officials across the country also called Friday for tougher
measures to fight the growing illicit marijuana trade.

"They should abandon any notion of decriminalization," Klein told
reporters in Calgary.

He said the officers were slain at a "significant" grow op with 300
plants worth $300,000.

The Alberta premier tore into the federal Liberals for being
inconsistent on marijuana, talking about tougher penalties for growers
while moving to decriminalize the drug.

In light of the deaths, Alberta Solicitor General Harvey Cenaiko is
preparing a report on tackling marijuana grow operations and organized
crime that will be forwarded to the federal government when it is
completed next week.

Cenaiko spoke with Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan Friday and
reiterated Alberta's opposition to Ottawa's move to decriminalize
possession of small amounts of pot.

"In the wake of this tragedy, now is not the time for the federal
government to weaken illegal drug legislation," said Cenaiko in a statement.

In Ottawa, Chief Vince Bevan -- a consistent critic of lenient
marijuana laws -- pulled no punches in pinpointing blame for the
spiralling number of illegal grow ops in the country.

"This is a serious problem not being adequately dealt with by
Parliament," he said. "Through sentencing and legislation, we are not
treating grow ops seriously."

News of the shooting deaths at the hands of a gunman during what
should have been a routine grow-op raid near Mayerthorpe had
enforcement officers across the country asking what went wrong, and
pondering what can be done to ensure such a tragedy is not repeated.

Bevan said all grow ops hold the potential for life-threatening
harm.

"There are dangerous situations going in and officers can never get
overconfident with them," said Bevan. "Many times, we've executed drug
busts and found weapons or locations booby-trapped, and these people
don't seem to care whether they shoot at police officers or rival gangs."

In Winnipeg, Chief Jack Ewatski said the deaths highlight the need for
police officers everywhere not to become complacent even in the most
routine of duties.

"We are in a profession where we could be hurt and we could be
killed," Ewatski said. "Obviously, people will use force to guard this
valuable commodity."

Not everyone is convinced grow ops are the threat they are being made
out to be, however.

Prominent Toronto defence lawyer Peter Zaduk -- who has represented
defendants in more than 150 grow-op prosecutions in southern Ontario
- -- said stronger penalties for grow ops might scare away small-time
operators, but "the vacuum will be filled by the people who are
willing to take the risks."

Zaduk also dismissed as nonsense suggestions by police and McLellan,
who is also public safety minister, that grow ops are run by violent
members of organized crime groups. "These are mostly franchises, run
by people who hire others to do the wiring for them. There is an
element of organization, but not organized crime in the traditional
sense," he said. "There are no triads."

Zaduk downplayed the risk of violence in police raids on grow ops,
noting that in a trial in Barrie, Ont., last month, a senior Ontario
Provincial Police officer testified the force had encountered violence
in only two of 800 marijuana raids.

Police officers across the country expressed sorrow Friday at the
deaths.

"They're colleagues, even if they're far away," RCMP Cpl. Steven
LeBlanc said in Montreal.

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REACTION

Mayor Stephen Mandel:

"On behalf of city council and all the citizens of Edmonton, I extend
sympathy and deepest regret to everyone affected by yesterday's
horrific events. The city of Edmonton mourns with you."

Lt.-Gov. Norman Kwong:

"While the lives of these four brave officers have been extinguished,
their spirits will live on in the hearts and minds of all who knew
them and all Albertans who mourn their loss ... I wish healing and
understanding to everyone affected by this senseless tragedy. May it
serve to strengthen our respect for those among us who stand ready to
defend that goal with their very lives."

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper:

"Yesterday's deaths are a painful reminder of the price of freedom
from criminal activity, and the costs of ensuring that Canadians can
live in security and safety."

Legislature Speaker Ken Kowalski:

"It is a difficult loss to accept or understand; a loss that has
affected a community, a police force, a province, a nation. There are
no words of comfort that can adequately express how truly sorry so
many of us felt on learning that these men, with so much ahead of
them, had their lives cut so tragically short."

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1885 UPRISING

This week's slayings were the worst slaughter of Mounties since the
Rebellion of 1885.

Eight members of the Northwest Mounted Police were killed and another
11 wounded in a series of skirmishes that ended with the Battle of
Batoche on May 9, 1885.

Trouble had been brewing for a year since the Metis, led by Louis
Riel, petitioned the federal government to get legal title to their
properties by the North Saskatchewan River as white settlement
continued to spread.

A force of Mounties and volunteers marched out of Fort Carlton to
confront Metis rebels.

The first skirmish near Duck Lake in late March 1885 was a disaster
for them -- the Mounties were outnumbered and the Metis fighters had
the advantage of ground and cover. They retreated back to Fort
Carlton, leaving some of the dead and wounded behind in the heavy snow.

The extent of the rebellion and defeat was a huge shock, but within
days the Mounties were joined by militia units from eastern and
western Canada and managed to quell the rebellion.

It was the largest-ever loss for the force. In its 132-year history,
200 Mounties have been killed in the line of duty.

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WHERE YOU CAN GO TO EXPRESS CONDOLENCES

- - A book of condolence will be set up in the lobby of RCMP
headquarters at 96 Bellerose Dr. in St. Albert from 8 a.m. to 7:30
p.m.

- - Books of condolence will also be available at the legislature from
10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today, Sunday and throughout the week.

- - Park Memorial Funeral Home is setting up a memorial book in Edmonton
until March 12 at 9709 111th Ave. It will be open from 9 a.m. to 5
p.m. today, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday and 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to
Friday.

- - Park Memorial will also have books at the front desk of the
Mayerthorpe Town Office and Mayerthorpe Post Office.

RCMP Massacre; Ran with fact boxes "Reaction", "1885 Uprising"and
"Where You Can Go to Express Condolences", which have been appended to
this story.