AREA MPS URGING TOUGHER POT FINES

OTTAWA (CP) -- The government's push to decriminalize simple possession of
marijuana is running into opposition from Liberal backbenchers.

Jim Karygiannis, a Toronto-area MP, suggested the pot bill is one more
reason Chretien should step down early.

No other Liberals went that far, but some area backbenchers took issue with
the bill introduced Tuesday by Justice Minister Martin Cauchon.

The bill would make possession of as much as 15 grams of pot a minor
offence, punishable by fines ranging between $100 and $250 for youths and
$150 to $400 for adults

London-North-Centre MP Joe Fontana called drug-impaired driving a "serious
concern" for Canadians and raised concerns the bill would encourage
marijuana users to toke and drive.

He hopes the bill can be amended to boost fines to around $500 and reduce
the limit for personal possession to five grams from 15, he said.

He added the party's leadership race could undermine Cauchon's legislative
schedule.

"I'm not impressed," said Huron-Bruce MP Paul Steckle. "It may appear at
first blush to be going in the right direction. But a $100 fine is hardly a
penalty."

Stan Keyes, the national caucus chairperson, said he has no problem with
the bill.

But he acknowledged some of his caucus colleagues are miffed that they
didn't have a bigger say in advance of its tabling.