ELECTION TRAIN READY TO ROLL

All the portents are pointing to a June 28 federal election with a flurry
of candidate nominations, campaign office openings and Liberal ministers
ramping up their public profiles around B.C.

"The election train is getting its steam up and is about to leave the
station," NDP candidate Rollie Keith predicted yesterday.

But while mainstream political parties are getting their campaigns in gear,
the Marijuana Party of Canada is out of joint as some members are throwing
their support to the federal New Democrats.

"I'm discouraging people from running in the federal election," says Marc
Emery, former leader of the party's western wing. "We've thrown our support
behind the NDP and (party leader) Jack Layton."

But Norm Siefken, the party's new western Canada leader and the declared
candidate in the Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon riding, said he would "never
endorse half measures as proposed by the NDP" and would work "endlessly" to
promote the full legalization of marijuana. A bill to decriminalize
marijuana tabled by the federal Liberals is expected to die when the
election is called.

Last week, Conservative MP Chuck Strahl announced he will open a campaign
office soon. Earlier, Liberal MP Stephen Owen attended the opening of a
campaign office in Chilliwack for Bob Besner, the Liberal candidate in the
Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon riding.

Mr. Keith said he is also opening a campaign office soon, which may be "a
little less flamboyant than our competitors, but functional and focused" on
winning this riding.

"All three major parties in this province are basically running neck and
neck," he said. "I think that bodes for a very different election than
we've seen over the last three or four campaigns."