LAYTON DODGES MARIJUANA QUESTIONS

Advocated Full Legalization Last Year, but Now Refuses to Be Drawn into Issue

Jack Layton clearly doesn't want to talk about marijuana during this
election.

There is only a vague mention of the topic in the party's platform and
Layton has been dodging all questions about where he stands on the
issue.

Last year, Layton upset some NDP MPs by advocating full legalization;
so now he uses the phrase "real decriminalization" and refers all
questioners to unspecified past documents from the party.

Layton's spinners are no clearer on the topic that was once advocated
vociferously.

Saved by his BlackBerry: Jack Layton was left stammering for an answer
during a live French radio interview broadcast across the country yesterday.

A caller told Layton he wanted to vote NDP in his Eastern Ontario
riding of Prescott- Russell, but didn't know the candidate because
there aren't any NDP signs to be found.

Layton was also at a loss, explaining it is hard to remember the names
of all 308 candidates.

Meanwhile, Layton's staff struggled to find Prescott-Russell because
the riding is actually called Glengarry-Prescott-Russell, which is
held by Liberal MP Don Boudria.

Finally, Layton received a message on his BlackBerry and announced his
candidate in the riding is Martin Lauvier.

Harper says Tories open-minded: Stephen Harper suggests not all
Conservatives oppose Bill C-250, a recent amendment to the Criminal
Code to protect gays against hate propaganda.

"There's a range of views in my party. Some people supported that
legislation," Harper said.

While it is true a handful of Conservative MPs voted for the bill,
they were all former members of the old Progressive Conservative caucus.