DRUG USE TOPS KWANTLEN DEBATE

A gathering of 20 students from Kwantlen University College heard just
half of the debate in Surrey-North, as only four of the constituency's
eight federal election candidates were present for an all-candidates
meeting Wednesday evening at the Surrey campus.

Penny Priddy of the New Democratic Party (NDP) was the highest profile
candidate absent from the 75-minute session, the first of three staged
in the Student Union Cafe by the Kwantlen Students Association.

Priddy's campaign staff said Thursday confusion over the meeting time
and a conflict in Priddy's schedule prevented her from attending .

Only Dave Matta of the Conservative party, Green party candidate Roy
Whyte, Liberal hopeful Surjit Kooner and Kevin Pielak of the Christian
Heritage Party were present, with Whyte earning the loudest applause
when he voiced his party's support for decriminalizing possession of
marijuana.

"It's not a gateway drug that leads to use of stronger drugs, studies
show that," Whyte said. "We have 200,000 Canadians with a criminal
record for simple possession. Billions of dollars are wasted in the
fight against mairujuana.

"Methadone, heroine, cocaine -- those are drugs thar destroy people
and families."

The statement raised the ire of Matta, who said "decriminalization
would be a disaster. I'm a counsellor, I know marijuana is definitely
a gateway drug."

The Conservative position is to get tough on those in the drug trade,
and reach out to those seeking rehabilitation.

"Grow-ops, and the use of crack cocaine and crystal meth is increasing
dramatically," Matta said. "Police are frustrated with the repeat
offenders. Increased mandatory sentencing stops the revolving door.

"And if you want to change, want to get out, we're there."

Kooner also backed tougher penalties for drug crimes, but Pielak said
stiffer sentencing is not the answer.

"I don't believe the solution is mandatory sentencing, it only puts
more people in jail," he said. "If we catch people, they'll have to
pay every cent back to the victim. We'll take their house, their cars,
make them do community service."

Matta criticized the Liberal government for damaging
federal-provincial relations by cutting transfer payments over the
past 13 years.

"The federal government says `we have a surplus,' while the provincial
governments are saying `we don't have enough money for health and
education'," he said. "Billions of dollars in transfer payments were
cut and we all suffered. We have to increase the transfers, so more
money can be spent on health and education."

Kooner defended the cuts, noting the Liberals had to deal with a
$42-billion deficit left by the previous Conservative government, and
said all money transferred to provincial governments must be accounted
for.

"Money from the federal government must have a benchmark set," he
insisted. "If the province says `give us money, and we will determine
how to use it,' we say no. Any transferred money must have a target."

In addition to Priddy, Nikolas Langlands of the Progressive Canadian
Party, and independents Nina Rivet and John Baloun were not present.

Kwantlen hosted a meeting for Fleetwood-Port Kells candidates Thursday
(after The Leader's deadline), and hosts Newton-North Delta candidates
today (Friday) at 4:30 p.m. at the Surrey campus.

Fleetwood-Port Kells candidates will also meet Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. at
Fraser Heights Secondary School, 16060 108 Ave. The meeting is
sponsored by the Fraser Heights and Fleetwood community associations.