COUNCILLOR NEEDS TO COME CLEAN

Well, Grand Forks, we've finally done it. We were over-using our
right to free speech and so a local city councillor had to take
another right away from us - freedom of information

Coun. Joy Davies has created a brand new task force to study the issue
of medical marijuana and, guess what, you and I are not allowed to
know who is on it. Of course, at first I said, why would I care?
Davies can meet with anyone she wants to meet with.

But then I heard this secretive society is going to bring
recommendations forward to the city council that was voted in by the
citizens and paid for by the citizens. That makes it our business.

According to her documents, these recommendations will be about
providing a legal, local, safe access model for providing medical
marijuana and lobbying the provincial and federal governments with
this model. As it stands now, the city cannot legally start up any
grow-op or distribution system.

So, why are we not allowed to know who is on this committee? Because
apparently, Davies says she has "been on the end of both public and
private slights, shots, discrimination, screaming at and anger."

I'm not making light of her concerns, but if Davies believes there is
a legitimate threat to herself or others, she needs to call the police.

On the other hand, I've been told I'm guilty, too. I received a
letter from an Ontario member of a non-profit group which advocates
for improved access to medical marijuana. When asked by a local
resident why I had not printed this letter on our op-ed page, I said
letters from local residents are given priority over "lobbyists from
Ontario." That's right. I used the "L" word. Because of that, I was
told in an e-mail by Davies that I had "sensationalized and hurt
people" - a slight exaggeration. So, if your right to freedom of
information was taken away recently, go ahead and blame me.

Or if you think, being denied your right to freedom of information is
wrong, no matter what opinion you may have on this subject, then call
or e-mail your city council and let them know that your rights aren't
up for debate. It's called "lobbying" and it isn't a dirty word.