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Week in review
Political cartoonist Gary Clement takes a look at the week gone by
Majority of Canadians support legalizing or decriminalizing marijuana, new poll suggests
Canadians have green on their minds, but not in the environmental sense, according to a new poll.
Released on Tuesday, the poll suggests 66% of Canadians are in favour of the legalization or decriminalization of marijuana, with just 20% supporting leaving the laws as they are now.
The poll, conducted by Toronto-based Forum Research Inc., showed that residents of British Columbia were the most likely to support marijuana laws reform, with 73% of respondents indicating laws should be changed. Quebec had the lowest support for reforms, though the majority of respondents, 61%, supported changing marijuana legislation.
“The public no longer favours devoting the time and resources required to restrict marijuana use and possession, while many feel the best strategy is to legalize and tax its sale,” wrote Lorne Bozinoff, president of Forum Research Inc., in a press release accompanying the research. “For a majority of Canadians, the war on this particular drug needs to end.” (Photo: Aaron Lynett/National Post)
Obama calls for renewal in transatlantic relationship
U.S. President Barack Obama delivered a powerful exaltation on the past and the future of the transatlantic alliance Wednesday, anchoring a European tour by decrying the notion of inevitable Western decline.
But the gap between soaring oratory and the intractable nature of modern challenges was laid bare as Obama admitted the current NATO operation in Libya had “limitations” and was able to offer little new hope for Middle East peace.
NDP MP Brosseau cleared by Elections Canada
The path is clear for rookie New Democrat MP Ruth Ellen Brosseau — who has been under scrutiny since taking off to Las Vegas in the middle of the campaign — to take her seat in the House of Commons as far as Elections Canada is concerned.
NDP inexperience shows in latest gaffes
The week began on a high for the New Democratic Party, but in the few days since its sweeping victory, a number of public relations gaffes have played into the hands of critics, skeptical of the party’s ability to transition from third party to Official Opposition status with an especially young and inexperienced caucus.
The NDP’s volatile voice of experience
Thomas Mulcair, deputy leader of the NDP, has promised to take under his wing the raft of New Democrat rookies elected in Quebec Monday. But who is going to keep an eye on Mr. Mulcair?
Post-debate poll: Who’s likable, attractive, a prime minister?
While each party always claims victory after a debate, pollsters Ipsos Reid asked potential voters to pick winners and losers of the English debate Tuesday night. The results suggest Prime Minister Stephen Harper and NDP leader Jack Layton especially impressed people.
Harper the target in both languages
Graeme Hamilton: The Bloc Québécois is the clear front-runner among the federal parties in Quebec, but you wouldn’t have known it from Wednesday night’s French-language debate.
GeoPollster and the National Post partner for upcoming Canadian election
The National Post has partnered with GeoPollster to conduct a social experiment in the run-up to the upcoming Canadian federal election on May 2. Foursquare users can register their accounts with GeoPollster Canada. Each checkin will count as a “vote” for their preferred political party.
A GeoPollster Canada page on the National Post site will track the votes by province, city and venue. Each party will have an opportunity to “seize control” of each of those divisions, giving people an idea of where the party stands — at least amongst foursquare users.
