MANY ISSUES THROWN AT CANDIDATES

The five candidates for the federal election in Langley were grilled
on 21 subjects over the course of two hours by about 200 people at an
all-candidates' meeting in Aldergrove Wednesday evening.

The wide-ranging discussion covered everything from paying off the
federal debt and corporate subsidies to health care and affordable
housing. They were also asked for their personal positions on abortion
and the Charter of Rights.

On the question of abortion, only Conservative candidate Mark Warawa
refused to say whether he was pro-life or pro-choice, offering that
his party has promised "not to deal with abortion" in their first term
in government. Independent Mel Kositsky said he supported the "current
legislation" while New Democrat Dean Morrison, the Green party's
Patrick Meyer and Liberal Kim Richter said they were
"pro-choice."

Annabel Dean, citing her experiences in Africa, said she worried about
politicians "tinkering with our rights and the Charter" and asked how
the candidates felt about use of the notwithstanding clause.

Morrison, Meyer and Kositsky all agreed that the Charter should not be
manipulated or challenged. "It's one of the few things Pierre Trudeau
did which was good for the country," said Kositsky.

Warawa said it was "not an easy yes or no question" but that the
clause was built in "in case of need... (such as in the case of) a
Supreme Court decision with which we do not agree."

Richter said the clause was "like a veto Parliament can have but
should not be used unless it's an exceptional situation, and there is
nothing that merits its use right now."

One the the more burning issues raised was the matter of marijuana
grow-ops and drug labs.

Warawa said "organized crime puts many at risk" and suggested Canada
needs to reform proceeds-of-crime legislation so that more money goes
to the municipalities which bear 90 per cent of the policing costs.
"And we need to get tough on crime."

Richter said a recent RCMP briefing she attended was "eye opening" as
to the extent of the international trafficking in drugs and guns. "The
RCMP and Solicitor General Rich Coleman want to attack the root
causes" with a beefed-up inter-provincial prosecution unit and she
said she supported this as well as stronger legislation enabling
"Revenue Canada to seek out proceeds of crime."

Kositsky said he's served since 1997 on a committee which is trying to
"reduce alcohol and drug problems." Chilliwack recently adopted a
"model bylaw which should be implemented across the country," Kositsky
added.

Morrison said he would like to see government "strengthen port police,
the source of entry" for hard narcotics and guns, however, he urged a
"realistic approach to marijuana decriminalization... prohibition has
been shown to only result in increased criminal activity."

Meyer said "cocaine and heroin are nasty" but compared marijuana to
alcohol. "Prohibition is costing us huge in law enforcement and safety
in our homes. We should legalize it and tax it - the taxes would be in
the $2 billion range and we can use this money to dissuade our youth
from using drugs."

The Times and Aldergrove Star are sponsoring another all-candidates'
meeting on June 24, 7 p.m. at Fort Langley Community Hall.