TOBIQUE-MACTAQUAC FEDERAL RIDING CANDIDATES DISCUSS THE ISSUES IN
PUBLIC FORUM AT WOODSTOCK HIGH SCHOOL

The hopes of major party candidates to win the hearts of local youth
went up in smoke with one question.

With the federal election less than a week away, the four federal
party representatives for Tobique-Mactaquac took part in an
all-candidate's debate on Tuesday morning, hosted by Woodstock High
School's political science class.

The candidates fielded questions from the four-member panel, but the
topic which generated the greatest heat among the predominately
high-school-aged audience was the legalization of marijuana. The
Green Party's Mark Glass drew the loudest response, with his
straight-forward answer, saying, "We legalize it, we regulate it and
we tax it."

Glass's popularity among the audience was measured by more than
applause. He also garnered the majority of votes cast by students
exiting the debate. Glass took control with 81 votes, with Allen
coming in second with 40. Finnamore 18 and McGrath 14.

Whether the marijuana question alone earned Glass the strong support,
it certainly didn't hurt. Several students also noted they were
impressed with the Green Party candidate during his visit to the
school. All candidates dropped by the school at some point during the
campaign at the invitation of Richard Blaquiere's political science class.

In his response to the marijuana question, Glass noted gambling,
alcohol and tobacco - all considered harmful to society - are legal
substances. The government allows their sale and collects the taxes, he said.

He said government should take a step away from morality and use some
common sense, noting it sees few results from the millions of dollars
spent trying to bust grow-ops and trafficking rings. They would be
better off selling it and collecting taxes, he said.

"It would generate $1.5 billion in real money," he said. "We take it
off the streets and put it back into society."

While New Democratic Party candidate Alice Finnamore agreed with her
Green Party opponent, her response didn't seem to register as
strongly with the audience.

Finnamore noted today's marijuana contains more chemicals than it did
when she was younger - although she quickly pointed out she didn't
try it - but, Canada does not have enough police or court time to
control its sale or use.

Legalizing it, she said, would not only save tax dollars, but would
free up the justice system to concentrate on more important criminal activity.

"That is why the New Democrats support the legalization of
marijuana," Finnamore said.

Liberal candidate Sally McGrath opposes legalization, saying
marijuana induces psychotic states and is dangerous.

"A party that would legalize that, regardless of the financial
incentives, would be foolish," McGrath said. "We cannot legalize
drugs that cause psychotic states, we just can't do that."

Tory incumbent Mike Allen also pointed to health issues as a concern.
However, he questioned the benefit of giving someone a criminal
record for being in possession of a joint. He also saw potential for
medical use of cannabis.

"But, at the end of the day, it would not be our party's position to
legalize marijuana,"explained Allen.

The candidates also demonstrated stark differences on environment policy.

Allen dismissed the Kyoto Protocol agreement, signed in 1997, saying
Canada has fallen too far behind. Since then, he noted, emissions
have climbed by 35 per cent.

"Now is the time we have to turn the corner and take real action on
climate change," Allen said.

He explained the Conservatives plan to reduce greenhouse gases by 20
per cent by 2020 and by 60 to 70 per cent by 2050. He acknowledged
those numbers were based on 2006 levels, not the 1990 levels cited in
the Kyoto Accord, saying the government can't catch up on the lost ground.

Finnamore said the NDP believes in creating a greener Canada and
would do so through its five-point greener strategy - greener homes,
greener communities, greener transportation, greener industries and a
greener Canada.

She said Prime Minister Stephen Harper can't be trusted on the environment.

"Mr. Harper abandoned Canada's Kyoto targets and tabled three failed
green air plans, which exposed us to worse environmental climate
changing pollution for years to come," Finnamore explained. "He gave
more breaks to big polluters. He cut spending on energy conservation
targets but renewed $1.4 billion in annual subsidy to the companies
who are polluting our country, and he added $50 billion to
corporate-tax giveaways."

Finnamore also took aim at the Liberals.

"They may say they have something wonderful and new for us, but they
don't," Finnamore said. "What we intend to do is bring in a
cap-and-trade system that will make the big polluters pay and use the
proceeds from that to pay for environmental changes."

Speaking after Finnamore on the environment question, McGrath
defended the Liberal Green Shift.

Noting oil is a non-renewable energy source, she said, Canadians need
to get off their dependence on it. She said the Green Shift will
encourage energy efficiency and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. "By
taxing carbon, it will encourage technology changes," McGrath said.

She said the plan also returns money to Canadians through income tax
reductions. She added families with an income of $20,000 or less,
which don't pay tax, will receive $2,500 as a direct payment.
Families making $60,000 would receive a $1,200 tax break.

"This will ensure individual Canadians don't suffer and those who are
more economical will benefit," McGrath added.

Glass took a different approach to the issue. He quizzed the audience
asking if they would buy a Smart Car or a Cadillac Escalade. Most
responded Smart Car, although the word Escalade could be heard rising
from the seats.

Glass also expressed disappointment that many students drove their
own vehicles to school, but said he understands why.

"You bring your own car because it is convenient, but it is not
right," said Glass. "We have got to change, and the Green Party is a
vote for the future, a vote for change. We have policies and ideas to
change the way we use energy. All of you have to think that way, and
you all have to start thinking about everyone else, not just
yourselves, for a better future."

On the issue of employment, all four agreed to the importance of
local job creation. None, however, offered specific measures. Allen
cited major projects - such as a second oil refinery in Saint John, a
Point LePreau nuclear plant refurbishment, major highway projects and
the potential opening of resource mining - could deliver future job
opportunities.

The final question of the debate surrounded the issue of trust. Each
candidate acknowledged politicians are ranked near the bottom of the
trustworthy list.

"People don't like politicians because they talk out of both sides of
their mouths and off the top of their heads," said Glass. "We don't
do what we say, and we don't seem to mean it."

He turned to Green leader Elizabeth May as an example of an honest politician.

"In the debate over the weekend, Elizabeth May gave honest answers to
good questions, and I believe we don't promise things to get your
vote . I think the Green Party will change the way you think about
politicians."

Allen said trust begins at the local level, suggesting Canadians
elect people they believe they can trust.

Finnamore said she got involved in politics because she was tired of
all the broken promises. While the NDP have never had a chance to
govern, she said, it has strived to keep its promises.

McGrath pointed to what she called "despicable" lies circulating in
the current campaign as a reason the public doesn't trust
politicians. She, too, cited her leader, Stephane Dion, as an honest
politician. Like him, she said, "she will not change, and she will
always tell the truth, whether people want to hear it or not."