CITY OF GRAND FORKS CANDIDATES HAVE THEIR SAY

The all-candidates forum for the City of Grand Forks took place last
Wednesday (Nov. 9) and there were 12 candidates vying for six
councillor positions and three for mayor.

City council incumbents Joy Davies, Michael Wirischagin and Cher Wyers
will be seeking another term while Everett Baker, Jocelyn Cowie,
Lorraine Dick, Zak Eburne-Stoodley, Bob Kendel, Neil Krog, Patrick
O'Doherty, Bob Smith and Gary Smith will be aiming for election to the
next council.

Questions asked to candidates ranged from downtown revitalization to
homelessness to a location for the fall fair.

The topic of medicinal marijuana was brought up in reference to an
incident that was brought to council in 2009 regarding the issue and
ensuing petition.

Coun. Joy Davies was asked what she thought was an appropriate role of
a councillor and if she had any personal agendas that she would bring
to council if she was re-elected.

"Cannabis has been legal in Canada for medical purposes since 2001. As
an elected official in this city of this great country, I have always
advocated for the ill and the disabled," said Davies.

"In March 2009, I made a decision to come to this council with a
resolution for our UBCM (Union of British Columbia Municipalities)
conference regarding the decentralization of the medical marijuana
program to the province. Council did not support this resolution and I
respected that decision."

Davies said that many ill and disabled in the community have asked her
to continue to work to find solutions to their issue of accessing
"this legal medication."

Lorraine Dick was also questioned about personal agendas, medicinal
marijuana and also about her role with the Grand Forks Compassionate
Society.

"I have no plans at all to bring anything to council that relates to
medical marijuana," Dick responded.

[snip]