XPost: can.politics   
   From: ConsRCons@govt.cda   
      
   On the issue of legalizing marijuana, it looks like there is.  And the   
   phone calls must have been swift and influential for this Liberal   
   candidate in tomorrow's byelection for Bourassa district in Quebec to do   
   a 180 so quickly.   
   ____________________________________________________   
   Sunday, November 24, 2013   
      
   Liberal candidate under fire for doubting party's pot policy   
      
      
   OTTAWA - OTTAWA - The Liberal federal byelection candidate in the riding   
   of Bourassa took shots from all sides Sunday after publicly doubting   
   Justin Trudeau's desire to legalize marijuana then back tracking hours   
   later on Twitter.   
      
   In a candidate's debate on CPAM 1410 radio, Conservative candidate Rida   
   Mahmoud asked Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg to explain Trudeau's pot policy,   
   saying it didn't reflect the priorities of the riding, where crime is a   
   significant problem.   
      
   "Justin Trudeau is about to have three kids, do you really think someone   
   like that has the priority to legalize marijuana so there's more drugs   
   on the streets?" Dubourg responded in French.   
      
   The NDP was quick to point out the odd comments via Twitter, where   
   Dubourg attempted to clarify his position hours later. "I agree with my   
   party, I am for regulation and therefore the legalization of marijuana,"   
   Dubourg explained.   
      
   NDP candidate Stephane Moraille accused Dubourg of contradicting his   
   party leader and doubted his political abilities.   
      
   "Mr. Dubourg seems to be talking out of both sides of his mouth," she   
   said. "We are not surprised."   
      
   Jason MacDonald, director of communications in the Prime Minister's   
   Office, said that while Dubourg "may be unclear, there's no question   
   Justin Trudeau has been clear that legalizing marijuana is a priority   
   for him."   
      
   "It's the only policy position he's advocated since becoming the   
   leader," MacDonald told QMI Agency. "That's why his candidate is now in   
   the position of having to defend Trudeau's soft on crime, pro-marijuana   
   position".   
      
   When asked for comment, Trudeau's office referred QMI Agency to   
   Dubourg's tweet from the day before in which he stated he agreed with   
   his party's leader.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)