Trudeau What a Sellout.

[Smallc]

In fairness, the article does say:

Mendes said Canada could still find a way to adhere to the treaties, but will have to show that legalizing marijuana helps reduce illicit drug use.

It's hard to square that circle. The wording will have to be very careful.

[The_Squid]

We should pull out of those treaties, or push to have them fixed. Criminalizing drugs doesn't work.

[Smallc]

We should pull out of those treaties, or push to have them fixed. Criminalizing drugs doesn't work.

It sounds like we won't be alone. Mexico and much of the Americas is on the same page as us.

[Guest]

How come he never mentioned this before the election?

[bush_cheney2004]

Canada banned cannabis before many other countries and these treaties, including the U.S.

Must have been a reason, eh ?

Edited January 6, 2016 by bush_cheney2004

[Guest]

They were drunk.

[Smallc]

How come he never mentioned this before the election?

This is a memo created by public servants that are starting the process for him. He didn't have the benefit of their council before the election.

[Guest]

This is a memo created by public servants that are starting the process for him. He didn't have the benefit of their council before the election.

I do not believe that he didn't know. I have no evidence to that effect. I just don't believe it. He has people for that kind of thing.

[Smallc]

I do not believe that he didn't know. I have no evidence to that effect. I just don't believe it. He has people for that kind of thing.

I personally don't believe he sees it as a large problem, either. it's a signature promise, like refugees, infrastructure, and the new child care benefit. He'll get it done.

[Smallc]

I do not believe that he didn't know. I have no evidence to that effect. I just don't believe it. He has people for that kind of thing.

By the way, I'm sure he knew. The difference is, now it's a government memo that the press has gotten a copy of.

[eyeball]

They were drunk.

[ReeferMadness]

From the CBC article in the OP:

The Liberal policy means that Canada will have to amend its participation in three international conventions:

— The Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, as amended by the 1972 Protocol;

— The Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971;

— The United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988.

"All three require the criminalization of possession and production of cannabis," says the briefing note.

Yet the article says this:

Mendes said Canada could still find a way to adhere to the treaties, but will have to show that legalizing marijuana helps reduce illicit drug use.

so IDK what to think.

To me the article seems to have be hastily written - why didn't they get a comment from the government?

[Smallc]

To me the article seems to have be hastily written - why didn't they get a comment from the government?

I've seen a lot of this from the media of late (pre Trudeau also). They create problems that don't exist out of thin air based on one line they read somewhere.

[-1=e^ipi]

How about just legalize it and say f^ck the UN's outdated fascistic treaty?

Yes. F^ck the UN.

This is what the Conservatives did for years, and look at all the ill-considered legislation and unconstitutional laws that were overturned by the SCC... I would rather they take the time to get it right.

Or maybe we need to realize that we are continually shackled by the state of Canada and how it was constructed/founded. Can't abolish the senate, can't legalize marijuana, etc. We need significant constitutional reform.

[GostHacked]

One solution would be to make the treaty null and void. If we have a sovereign nation, then Trudeau should be able to get rid of it with the buy in of Canadians. Do we need to be part of those treaties?

[Keepitsimple]

I've seen a lot of this from the media of late (pre Trudeau also). They create problems that don't exist out of thin air based on one line they read somewhere.

Exactly - it happened a lot with Harper and I would expect it to continue......they sensationalize "briefings" and "memos" which are nothing but input to the decision-making process - if indeed one has to be made. Headlines with no context.

Which brings up a pet peeve I have - who the heck ever decided that "decisions are taken" as opposed to decisions being made. Where exactly does one "take" decisions.....to the person who makes them? For heavens sake, you make a decision, you don't take one.

Edited January 6, 2016 by Keepitsimple

[PIK]

Calm down. Trudeau's been PM less than 3 months. The media is looking for controversy and they've found an internal memo that outlines some treaties that previous governments have signed onto. Then they went and found themselves an expert who is willing to say it's a big problem. There is no statement from the government so I see this as nothing but speculation.

4 months and guess what ,harper was right, he ain't ready and I don't think in 4 yrs he will be ready.

[Topaz]

Consider this, there's more money to be make for illegal drugs by certain countries and their agencies have made big bucks over many many years selling them.

[ReeferMadness]

4 months and guess what ,harper was right, he ain't ready and I don't think in 4 yrs he will be ready.

Yay - another disposable comment from the crowd waiting for Trudeau to fail.

You do know he won the election, right? And that "just ain't ready" nonsense backfired.

[PIK]

Sorry reefer, but he is not leadership material. It shows every day. But in 4 yrs , there will be conservative governments all over Canada. Now we just have to survive that long.

[overthere]

Sorry reefer, but he is not leadership material. It shows every day. But in 4 yrs , there will be conservative governments all over Canada. Now we just have to survive that long.

There is little chance of that happening.

Why? Because ranked ballots will be the new electoral system by then. And we will enjoy Liberal federal govts from then on. Trudeau will be PM until he quits or gets fired by the Liberal Executive.

Why are we wasting any time talking about legalizing a drug that nobody cares about? The debate ended when an entire generation lit up.

It is 'bread and circuses' time...... Distract the masses from what matters while nattering on about shit that doesn't matter. Let's all smoke a spliff in celebration while the evil slides by just below the horizon.

[overthere]

Consider this, there's more money to be make for illegal drugs by certain countries and their agencies have made big bucks over many many years selling them.

One of those coutnries that used to make a lot of money with illegal drugs was...... Canada. BC bud was a multi billion dollar breadwinner in BC for years, until all the Pacific States satrted cashing in and squeezed the life out of the export business.

It was estimated at one time that BC Bud was bigger money earner than Forestry in BC.

[ReeferMadness]

Sorry reefer, but he is not leadership material. It shows every day. But in 4 yrs , there will be conservative governments all over Canada. Now we just have to survive that long.

Got new for you, pal. Leaders lead. They find good people, set direction and get out the way and support those people. Like choosing a highly acclaimed cabinet, writing letters of expectation and letting cabinet ministers stand up and speak to the issues.

If you don't recognize that as leadership, maybe it's because we just lived through 9 years of relentless micromanagement.

ETA: I've seen more cabinet ministers speaking intelligently in the last 2 months than in the previous 9 years combined.

Edited January 7, 2016 by ReeferMadness

[PIK]

To many progressives ruin it for every one, and don't bet on electoral change yet. And even if it does, and trudeau does the job I think he will, people maybe ready to throw him out. The conservatives need to take over the centre since trudeau is going hard left. But since trudeau seems to be changing his ideas to exactly what harper would have done, who knows. Because so far with his reversals he has shown that harper was right.

Edited January 7, 2016 by PIK

[Keepitsimple]

To many progressives ruin it for every one, and don't bet on electoral change yet. And even if it does, and trudeau does the job I think he will, people maybe ready to throw him out. The conservatives need to take over the centre since trudeau is going hard left. But since trudeau seems to be changing his ideas to exactly what harper would have done, who knows. Because so far with his reversals he has shown that harper was right.

You've no doubt heard the phrase "Liberals campaign from the Left and govern from the Right". In other words - lie through their teeth during the campaign, then take a more pragmatic approach to governing. The problem we may have this time around is that Justin may very well behave like his father - do whatever he wants - and damn the cost to taxpayers and the country. There are reasons why Pierre Trudeau admired Chairman Mao and Fidel Castro - and it shouldn't have been that surprising that Justin let slip his own admiration of how the Chinese could make things happen. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Edited January 7, 2016 by Keepitsimple