CAUCHON LEAVES SIX UNFINISHED BILLS FOR MARTIN

Justice Minister Martin Cauchon, an ardent Chretien loyalist who is said to
be eyeing a return to the private sector, is handing Paul Martin a parting
gift of six pieces of controversial legislation, the most unfinished
business of any federal department.

Bills to decriminalize marijuana possession, crack down on child
pornography, protect animals from abuse, modernize divorce and child custody
laws, and guard against corporate fraud all died when Parliament shut down
last week. Draft legislation to legalize gay marriage is still being vetted
by the Supreme Court of Canada.

It is expected that the most contentious bills will be reviewed once Mr.
Martin becomes prime minister Dec. 12. His support for decriminalizing
marijuana has been lukewarm, and he has said he also wants to take a look at
the same-sex legislation.

"He has all the discretion," conceded Mr. Cauchon, who has never talked to
Mr. Martin. Mr. Cauchon, a 41-year-old lawyer who rose rapidly in the
Chretien years, is expected to be cut from the Martin cabinet.

Mr. Cauchon acknowledged yesterday that his legislative hopes have not
materialized since becoming justice minister in January 2002. But Mr.
Cauchon said he measures his success in the fact that he got Canadians
talking about gay marriage and marijuana.

A source said Mr. Cauchon is considering going back to practising law and
will make a decision in coming weeks.