CANADA SUBMITS TO THE U.S. ON DOMESTIC POLICY

I couldn't agree more with Christopher Foulds (U.S. gets its way with
pot decision, guest column Victoria News, Dec. 31).

That Jean Chretien's justice minister, Martin Cauchon, had to ask U.S.
Attorney General John Ashcroft for permission to liberalize Canada's
marijuana laws is, indeed, a laughable act of neo-colonial submission
to a foreign power.

Chretien's proposed legislation, it seems, was merely a red herring, a
token of "socially liberal" fakery from a PM who pushed Canada more to
the right wing than his neo-conservative predecessor, Brian Mulroney.

It's fiscal policy that leads and sets the agenda for social policy,
as a master leads a dog on a leash.

It's unfortunate that Paul Martin didn't ask Bill Clinton for
permission to run a deficit, to save Canada's social programs. Ronald
Reagan ran a deficit and the sky didn't fall. Now George Dubya is
running the mother of all deficits.

Our politicians are shameless in their secrecy, hypocrisy, ill will
and treachery. Might as well do some begging for good measure.

Has it ever been more clear that Canada's education, health and
welfare policies are all made in the U.S.A.? Continued criminalization
of pot will necessitate a cover story by The Economist stating that
Canada is not really cool, but cruel.

Lawrence Chanin