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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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CN BC: Unity, Pot Parties Select Candidates For Peninsula
ccguide Sunday 01 Apr 2001 Pubdate: Wed, 28 Mar 2001 Source: Peace Arch News (CN BC) Copyright: 2001 Peace Arch News Contact: Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1333 Website: http://www.peacearchnews.com/ Author: Karen Sawatzky UNITY, POT PARTIES SELECT CANDIDATES FOR PENINSULA Two more candidates-representing very different views-are readying themselves for the looming provincial election. The Unity Party, B.C.'s newest flag on the political landscape, held a meeting last week to form a Surrey-White Rock constituency association and name retired horse breeder Garry Sahl its standard-bearer. Sahl, 52, a South Surrey resident, sought a school board nomination from Surrey Electors Team. He lost that bid, but the experience motivated him to take political science courses at Kwantlen College. He has been involved in the Family Coalition Party, one of four parties (including B.C. Reform, Social Credit and Progressive Conservative) involved in forming Unity Party in November. "I believe we need to have something different than we have right now," Sahl said. "Political parties, when they get elected, they believe they have a mandate to dictate to the people whatever they choose rather than have a referendum on it." The party is strongly against abortion and believes homosexuals should not have the right to adopt children, Sahl said. The party favours individual cash and land settlements with First Nations people rather than collective treaties. Sahl is the single parent of three children, aged 14, 18 and 22. The Marijuana Party is running a provincial slate of candidates for the first time, and has given the nod to Port Moody resident David Bourgeois to run in Surrey-White Rock. Although not a resident, Bourgeois said he is well known locally because he's taught in the area for almost 20 years, including at White Rock Elementary, and Semiahmoo and Elgin secondary schools. He works as a substitute French teacher, and also teaches music from home. Bourgeois said his main reason for running is to highlight the financial benefits the province would gain if it "legalized what is already the biggest business in B.C." Marijuana decriminalization will be the main plank of the party's platform. "It could probably be sold like beer instead of being sold out of your local teenage drug dealer's house," Bourgeois said. He said keeping pot illegal doesn't do anything to stop people from using it, but does create a dangerous "code of silence" which means serious crimes committed in connection with its growth and sale go unreported. Bourgeois is willing to relocate, and said he'd make a good representative on all issues. "B.C. Liberals are basically big business. The NDP is big union. The Marijuana Party is big people," he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D
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