WE'LL MAKE POT LAWS, PM TELLS CELLUCCI

Border Congestion Fears

OTTAWA - Prime Minister Paul Martin yesterday brushed aside warnings
from U.S. ambassador Paul Cellucci that a border crackdown will result
if Canada decriminalizes marijuana, saying this country reserves the
right to pass laws as it sees fit.

Asked his opinion of Mr. Cellucci's prediction that relaxed marijuana
laws in Canada will worsen congestion at border crossings with the
United States, Mr. Martin was unequivocal.

"Firstly, the legislation is before the House of Commons, then the
parliamentary committee will have its discussions on all the various
points, and we'll wait to see the legislation that comes from that,"
he said. "But Canada will make its own laws, pure and simple."

Business groups have raised concerns over possible tie-ups resulting
from more liberal marijuana laws in Canada, saying that even the
current border morass costs Canadian businesses billions of dollars
annually. It is estimated that $1.2-billion in goods and services
travel across the border each day, making it the world's most
lucrative bilateral trading relationship.

Opposition Conservatives, who insist the draft legislation is deeply
flawed, yesterday renewed calls to shelve the pot bill until trade
disputes with the Bush administration over beef and softwood lumber
exports are resolved.

"Why are we bringing it forward at a time when we have so many trade
disputes with the United States? ... I want assurances from the
Americans that they're comfortable with [Canada's position]. We have
not got that, they're telling us it's going to impact on our trade,
and if it's going to impact on our trade, let's bury this bill," said
justice critic Vic Toews.

The draft legislation calls for fines of $150 for adults -- and $100
for minors -- who are caught in possession of up to 15 grams of
marijuana. The bill also proposes tougher sentences for those who
produce the drug.

On Tuesday, Mr. Cellucci told the National Post's editorial board he
was perplexed by the timing of the new pot bill.

"Why, when we're trying to take pressure off the border, would Canada
pass a law that would put pressure on the border?" he said. "If people
think it's easier to get marijuana in Canada, then our people at the
border are going to be on the lookout, and I think they will stop more
vehicles, particularly vehicles driven by young people, whether
they're citizens of Canada or the United States."

A spokesman for Public Safety Minister Anne McLellan said U.S.
officials have told the federal government they remain committed to
easing border congestion.

Meanwhile, a recent COMPAS, Inc. survey of Toronto-area residents
conducted for the National Post suggests two-thirds of respondents
think legalizing marijuana would hurt Canada-U.S. relations.

Sixty-five per cent of the 500 people called between Oct. 22 and Nov.
1 said they thought relations between the nations would worsen, 9%
said they would improve.

Asked to respond to Police Chief Julian Fantino's recent remark
likening the decriminalization of marijuana to legalizing murder,
Toronto residents were evenly split: 33% said he should never have
said it, 27% said he was right and a further 27% said he was wrong but
that he could be forgiven.

The poll is accurate to within 4.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.