POLITICIANS SHOCKED

Leaders Express Grief Over Brutality of Mountie Killings

Politicians nationwide echoed their grief at the killing of four RCMP
officers yesterday. Alberta Premier Ralph Klein said he was surprised
and saddened that such a tragedy would occur in the quiet farming
community of Rochfort Bridge, about 123 km northwest of Edmonton.

"The violent slaying of four Alberta RCMP officers in the line of duty
is a crime of horrific proportions -- it saddens me beyond words," he
said.

"These four officers gave their lives for the most noble of causes:
Upholding the law and maintaining the peace of their community.

"That such unspeakable tragedy should befall them weighs heavily on
the hearts of all Albertans."

Prime Minister Paul Martin expressed his condolences in a written
statement.

"Canadians are shocked by this brutality and join me in condemning the
violent acts that brought about these deaths," Martin said.

"This terrible event is a reminder of the sacrifice and bravery of the
men and women who serve in our national police force, and of the
dangerous circumstances which they often confront, in order to make
Canada a safer place.

"On behalf of the Government of Canada, I would like to express my
condolences to the families of the officers who were killed as they
carried out their duty in enforcing the law and protecting the public.

"At this moment of difficulty and loss, you are in our thoughts and
prayers."

Alberta Solicitor General Harvey Cenaiko spoke to media shortly before
meeting with the families of the dead.

"This issue was senseless in the fact that four officers were killed
with regard to a grow operation," Cenaiko said.

"(It) goes to the seriousness of the fact that organized crime,
illegal cultivation of marijuana or the illegal production of crystal
meth is all around us in the province."

In the wake of the tragedy, Public Safety Minister Anne McLellan says
she's prepared to consider tougher penalties for marijuana grow operations.

McLellan and Justice Minister Irwin Cotler will review the proposed
marijuana decriminalization bill to see whether it goes far enough.

But while McLellan dodged the question of whether minimum sentences
are needed to deter growers, she conceded police need more help.

"There is a resource issue," she said.

"But I think there's also an issue around, do we have the right laws
in place? Have we given the RCMP and other forces the right tools they
need to deal with what is an amazing growth, quite truthfully, in
these operations."

McLellan called grow ops "a scourge" on the country.