MATURE DEBATE ON EVERY ISSUE

Editor:

In the Jan. 7 edition you quoted Nicholas Simons on the subject of
marijuana as saying, "One thing that has been missing from this
entire debate is a call for mature debate around legalizing
marijuana. We need to have informed debate that doesn't rely on
emotions or preconceived notions or scare tactics."

Commendable, and just the sort of approach one would hope to find in
a candidate for the leadership of a political party. A true leader
would, I think, apply this approach to the review of all issues.
However, earlier in the same article, Simons said he would like to
see the harmonized sales tax (HST) gone. No informed debate on this
one! Regardless of the shameful way in which the HST was introduced,
when you strip away the "emotion and preconceived ideas and scare
tactics" associated with this issue, you may discover that it is the
right thing to do.

Bill Climie

Davis Bay