DECRIMINALIZE POT, TORY BOSS URGES

Clark takes personal stand on marijuana use, saying it's unfair to burden
youths with record

Conservative Party leader Joe Clark called on the federal government
yesterday to decriminalize marijuana, saying it's not fair for a young
person to face a lifelong criminal record for possession of the drug.

"Personally, I make a distinction between legalization and
decriminalization," Clark told reporters. "What interests me is
decriminalization because I don't want to have a young person carry forever
the burden of a conviction for a criminal offence."

For example, a criminal record can block a young person from pursuing some
careers, he said.

But Clark was careful to point out that his position is a personal one that
is not shared by everyone in his party.

"That is my position. There are some of my MPs who don't share that
position and we can discuss it during the meetings of the federal committee."

Clark's comments come in the wake of a decision by the House of Commons
last week to set up a committee to study the use of non-medical drugs,
including marijuana. They also come at the same time as a public-opinion
poll conducted by a University of Lethbridge sociologist that found 47 per
cent of Canadians favour the legalization of marijuana.

Yesterday, Clark took advantage of a break in the House of Commons schedule
to drum up support for his party in Quebec City and to pay a visit to
Quebec Premier Bernard Landry - a man Clark described as an old friend and
a formidable adversary of federalism.

Clark emerged from a 20-minute meeting with the sovereignist leader to warn
that there is "a danger that the rest of Canada could underestimate the
impact of Mr. Landry" and his ability to win a referendum on sovereignty.

Landry Underestimated

"It may well be that there are a lot of Canadian federalists outside of
Quebec who think that Mr. (Lucien) Bouchard's departure means that the
threat of sovereignty is over. I think they underestimate the intensity of
the commitment of Mr. Landry to that view and his great skill as a
political leader, and I don't underestimate either of those."

Clark said Canadians should take Landry seriously and should also show "a
lot of imagination" in renewing the way Canada works.

Landry said he was "delighted" to meet Clark, describing him as an old
friend despite their ideological differences on sovereignty.

"Ideologically speaking, I am advocating something that he is not
advocating and if I am efficient and useful in promoting my idea, of course
that will mean a setback for his own idea."

While Landry has rarely been known to shy away from a controversial
subject, yesterday he refused to take any position on the decriminalization
of marijuana, pleading that it was a federal responsibility.

Yesterday, as he toured Quebec City, a region made up largely of
soft-nationalist swing ridings, it was clear Clark was also setting out to
try to win back some of the soft-nationalist vote that once helped propel
the Tories to power.

"I am a friend of nationalists in Quebec," Clark said. "My attitudes
concerning Quebec nationalists are well known in Ottawa and if it is going
to cause me problems, it is a little late for that."

Later, during an interview on French-language TV channel RDI, Clark
predicted the Tories will be able to pull support in Quebec from both the
Bloc Quebecois and the Canadian Alliance in the next federal election.

Today, Clark is to continue trying to rebuild Conservative fortunes in
Quebec, including a fundraising dinner tonight at the Ritz Carlton Hotel.