LAYTON INJECTS POLITICS INTO FOLKFEST INTERVIEW

In town for a short media-blitz, federal NDP leader Jack Layton
praised Victoria for combating global warming by promoting sustainable
transportation.

But on the potential for a safe-injection site in Victoria under Prime
Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative government, Layton's tone sobered.

"We're not optimistic," Layton said before pausing to sip on a local
brew at FolkFest's Bayou Bar.

The widely supported safe-injection site initiative would require an
exemption from federal drugs laws, a precedent set by the
safe-injection site in Vancouver's downtown eastside.

However, these facilities aimed at harm reduction clash with
Conservative vows to crack down on crime.

"It's an important issue," said Layton who vowed the NDP would keep
pushing this hot topic in the House of Commons.

Layton's Friday visit to Victoria came in the wake of Prime Minister
Stephen Harper's first visit to Washington since becoming PM.

The meeting provoked strong views from Layton. Harper's statement that
Canada is "not prepared to open a missile defense issue at this time,"
particularly worried him.

"What Mr. Harper has done-is open the door to Canada being part of an
arms race," Layton said, noting experts predicted that if the U.S.
moved toward placing armaments in space, other countries would follow.

These predictions rang true, he said, referring to North Korea's
recent missile tests.

"We are not going to have a safer world because we have more
missiles."

Nevertheless, military spending in the right places is needed, he
said.

Commenting on the $15 billion in military spending that will land CFB
Esquimalt at least one supply ship, he said, "Some of the investments
in the military are required, because the equipment we're asking our
personnel to use is old and dangerous."

Layton, however, criticized the execution of the idea that has
billion-dollar contracts flowing to U.S. companies.

"They're not going to tender the process," he said. "They're doing it
in a great rush. I think that's inevitably going to cost Canadians
dramatically more."

He likened the process to the softwood agreement that leaves $1
billion (20 per cent) of levies in U.S. hands.

"It's only to appease Mr. Bush- All of this is designed to generate
so-called warming relations with the administration."

Layton is not surprised that Harper has forged warmer relations than
his predecessor.

"Of course they're warm and fuzzy; we're rolling over and giving
in."

Layton projected himself as a one-man think tank on the issues of the
day, including the menace of global warming.

Like former U.S. vice-president Al Gore, who brought the issue
increased notoriety in his film The Inconvenient Truth, Layton carries
a climate change Power Point presentation in his laptop.

"I remember the first time I started talking about seven-metre sea
level rises. People thought I was smoking something that wasn't legal
yet," he said, adding that when the Greenland ice sheet melts the
Inner Harbour will be underwater.

An eternal optimist, Layton has hope that this catastrophe can be
avoided and credits municipalities for their efforts.

"It's the municipalities who've done the most across the country," he
added. "Victoria has already taken some good steps."

But there's much yet to be done.

Many buildings in Victoria need renovations to be energy efficient, he
said, noting that such power sources as solar, wind and tides should
be pursued locally to reduce the use of fossil fuels.

"There's so many energy efficient and renewable energy products that
communities are ready to take on-but it's Ottawa who has the funds."

Layton's manner countered the urgency of his words. Cool, calm and
collected, he strolled through the summer crowds to his next interview.

Along the way, politically savvy passersby recognized him and his
signature mustache. He even stopped to have his photo taken with
Victoria's "Plasterman" street performer, known for his immobile poses.

Continuing on, Layton rounded the bend on Douglas Street to Broughton
Street to some unexpected notoriety.

"Look, it's Stockwell Day," shouted a homeless man from a street
corner.

Layton laughed at being mistaken for the voice of social
conservatism.

"I guess he's not up on his federal politics," he quipped.