ROCK URGES LID ON POT LIST

OTTAWA -- Health Minister Allan Rock pleaded with journalists yesterday not
to publish a list of marijuana-users his department leaked to the media in
the first place.

"In terms of the security of the individuals, I would hope and expect that
the media would not publish the information whether they have it or not,"
said Rock.

"That would go a long way toward protecting the individuals involved."

Rock said he's "concerned" that confidential information was released by his
department.

But he said it would be up to his deputy minister to decide if an
independent inquiry is needed to find out how this happened and prevent it
from happening again.

"I'm sure the deputy will take whatever steps are required internally to
Health Canada to get to the bottom of this," Rock said.