CAMPBELL'S DRUG POLICY NIXED

Harper: City Voters Showed Mayor's Party Their Displeasure

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper took a swipe at Larry Campbell
yesterday, suggesting the outgoing Vancouver mayor's approach to drug
policy has been given the thumbs-down by voters.

Harper's comment came during his first election-campaign visit to
B.C. as he outlined get-tough policies on drug crime.

He slammed Campbell, whom he called Prime Minister Paul Martin's
"appointed Liberal senator," for a remark Campbell made dismissing
the idea of a crystal-meth crisis as "garbage."

When asked why people shouldn't listen to Campbell, given his fight
against drug abuse as mayor, Harper said voters had judged Campbell:

"I think the voters of Vancouver cast their judgment on Mr.
Campbell's party at the recent municipal election."

Jim Green, representing Campbell's Vision Vancouver party in the
mayor's race, lost to rival Sam Sullivan of the Non-Partisan Association.

Campbell was unavailable for comment yesterday.

In an e-mail to The Province last month, Campbell said he had not
played down the impact of crystal meth but rather suggested there was
no evidence of an epidemic.

Harper said a Tory government would impose mandatory prison sentences
of at least two years for people convicted of serious drug offences.

Flanked by Tory candidates as he spoke at a Burnaby community centre,
Harper said that, as prime minister, he would end house arrest for
people convicted of serious drug offences and increase fines for drug
traffickers or producers to reflect the street values of drugs.
Repeat offences would lead to escalating fines, he added.

Harper also said he would make it tougher to acquire the household
chemicals used to manufacture meth.

Asked if he had ever smoked marijuana, Harper said he was asthmatic
so has never smoked anything.

"In terms of temptation, I will leave any comment on that to my
dialogue with my Maker," he said.

- - In Vancouver yesterday, NDP Leader Jack Layton said that only his
party was proposing a balanced approach to dealing with crime,
juggling prevention with punishment. He promised further details soon.

Martin was not on the campaign trail yesterday.