MARIJUANA, ANIMAL CRUELTY BILLS TOP JUSTICE MINISTER'S WISH LIST

The federal government is poised to reintroduce controversial
legislation to decriminalize marijuana and will accompany it with a
bill giving police the power to force drivers to take a test, when
warranted, to prove whether they are driving while stoned.

In an interview, Justice Minister Irwin Cotler said he plans to
introduce both pieces of legislation sometime in the next month.

Nor does Mr. Cotler have any plans to change the legislation
decriminalizing marijuana first introduced by his predecessor Martin
Cauchon. "It might get changed in committee but we are basically
reintroducing that legislation."

Legislation to decriminalize marijuana is just one of several changes
Mr. Cotler says he plans to make in a bid to overhaul Canada's
criminal justice system.

While many of Mr. Cotler's initiatives were not spelled out in last
week's throne speech, he said his plans are reflected in the
principles outlined in the speech such as a commitment to human rights
and defending the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Mr. Cotler took a first step last week, introducing a bill to protect
vulnerable persons from things such as child pornography and a second
bill concerning those with mental disorders. However, that's just the
start of what he plans to accomplish.

"If I were to look at our legislative and parliamentary agenda, I
think we probably, proportionately, have as many if not more bills
from our department and that relate to criminal justice than anywhere
else in the government."

While Mr. Cotler plans to lessen the penalty for those caught with
small amounts of marijuana, he will also give police more powers to
stop and test, when warranted, those who smoke marijuana and then get
behind the wheel.

Currently, the law obliges drivers to submit to a breathalyser test if
police suspect they have been driving under the influence of alcohol,
but there has been no legal obligation for anyone to submit to a test
to determine whether they are under the influence of marijuana, he
said.

"Now a technology has been developed which allows for a parallel
process with regard to drug-impaired driving to be investigated and
enforced as we have for alcohol-impaired driving."

Mr. Cotler also plans to give police more tools by reintroducing
legislation to expand the existing DNA databank, which matches the
blood, hair and saliva of convicted criminals against samples taken at
crimes scenes.

The plight of sex-trade workers is also one of Mr. Cotlers concerns.
"We want to look at how sex-trade workers can be protected and what
legislative initiatives need to take place in that regard."

Mr. Cotler added he is determined to reintroduce legislation governing
cruelty to animals, legislation that hasn't been reformed since 1892.
Bills reforming the law have been passed twice by the House of Commons
only to be blocked by the Senate.

However, Mr. Cotler said the bill, as it has now been amended, and has
the support of both industry and animal rights groups.