LAYTON MAKES CAMPAIGN SWING THROUGH REGION

NDP leader Jack Layton says his party will press the Liberals to
maintain the federal moratorium on offshore oil exploration in B.C.
waters.

In a campaign stop in the province last Saturday, Layton accused
Prime Minister Paul Martin of remaining silent on the issue, while
forcing drilling critic David Anderson out of cabinet.

"He was the one person who would speak out on it," Layton said in an
interview. "He got dumped from the environment portfolio - that sent
a pretty strong message."

Layton touched on a series of resource issues in a swing through
Surrey and Burnaby ridings, where he mocked Martin's handling of the
softwood lumber dispute with the U.S.

Instead of more talk, Layton said, Canada should place an export
charge on oil and gas that goes south and "let our American friends
know loudly, clearly and respectfully well in advance that we're
being forced to consider such an initiative because of the unfairness
of the actions of the American administration."

Layton also pledged to explore whatever steps are possible to undo
the sale of Terasen Gas to Kinder Morgan.

"The Liberals in Victoria and the Liberals in Ottawa both said no to
any public input. That's wrong."

He took aim at the Conservative pledge to cut the GST by two per cent
over five years.

"Tax cuts are nice but they're not the top priority," he said.

He also pledges to continue to back the decriminalization of
possession of small amounts of marijuana - a bill that died with the
Martin government.

"Our view is there should be rules around marijuana use, personal
use, age, driving, trafficking, mass production and marketing," he
said.

And Layton dismissed critics who say the stance helps organized
crime.

"When something is criminalized to the extent that marijuana is you
have by definition created a context for organized crime," he said.

With just five seats out B.C.'s 36, a strong finish this election
could translate into big gains for the NDP.

How many does he hope for?

"More. A lot more."