NDP budget? -Jack Layton speach

[Karlin]

http://www.straightgoods.ca/ViewFeature5.cfm?REF=324

Jack Layton wraps up the year for the NDP by saying they used their influence to do good in parliament.
He says the Liberals will now introduce legistlation that the NDP pushed for.
quote Jack - " Over the next two years, within a balanced budget, the government will invest $4.5 billion in priority areas. Liberals have long promised action in these areas, but — in three majority governments — never delivered.
Among the priority areas are:
# building affordable housing;
# green infrastructure;
# lower tuition and more training opportunities;
# and increased foreign aid.
The NDP continues to fight for a separate bill (already introduced) which mandates a $100 million wage protection fund for workers whose employers face bankruptcy."
-end quote -

K - Those are good for us, not just good for business.

I would like to see all of them pass, although foreign aid might be handled "better" than just by increasing its volume.

What is missing is CANNABIS LEGALISATION legistlation from Layton
["legalisation legistlation from layton" is surprisingly easy to say three times in a row real fast eh?]

Medical marijuana, prohibition, hemp farming, hempseed foods, and the pharmaceuticalisation of canninaboids [!] , are a few of the issues over cannabis that have not been addressed, leaving them in limbo.

How do we go about getting issues on the burner again?
Can we just tell them what we want?
Why not?
Lets!!

Karlin :idea:

 

[Reverend Blair]

RE: NDP budget? -Jack Lay

Those are all part of the NDP platform in one way or another, Karlin. As I understand it, the strategy is to move things forward as the opportunities present themselves and to keep working in the background in the meantime.

When it comes to industrial hemp, it is better to pressure the provinces because they are more directly involved in agriculture and alternative crops. The provinces can then pressure the feds to open up new trade markets and to fight the US restrictions on the importation of hemp.

What is really missing is processing facilities though. That's where the provinces can get involved by guaranteeing loans and providing backing to producer-operated co-ops.

 

[Karlin]

YaButt?

Yes, but isn't there Federal Laws against "all forms of hemp/cannibus"?

if so, the Provinces are hamstrung by them....

I think I do see your point - Provincial govts could assist getting the industry off the ground with regulations and financial aid?

Geez, that would help farmers and rural areas a lot.

One thing someone told me - if HEMP was farmed, all the people in the area with "bud" growing in their homes and outdoors would be angry, as the hemp would "sex" the crops-for-smoke.
I am not sure how that works, but conditions have to be controlled for the plants to remain female or something.

 

[PoisonPete2]

YaButt?
One thing someone told me - if HEMP was farmed, all the people in the area with "bud" growing in their homes and outdoors would be angry, as the hemp would "sex" the crops-for-smoke.
I am not sure how that works, but conditions have to be controlled for the plants to remain female or something.

outdoors they would be screwed for a crop as pollen is very small and mobile. Indoors they would need filtered air exchangers.

 

[Reverend Blair]

Yes, but isn't there Federal Laws against "all forms of hemp/cannibus"?

I believe you still need a permit to grow hemp, but the rules for getting such permits have been greatly relaxed in recent years.

I think I do see your point - Provincial govts could assist getting the industry off the ground with regulations and financial aid?

Exactly. The financial aid doesn't even have to huge...loan guarantees for a producer co-op would likely do the trick. The biggest role the provinces can play is in setting up marketing boards and pressuring the feds to get our product into other markets through trade deals etc.

One thing someone told me - if HEMP was farmed, all the people in the area with "bud" growing in their homes and outdoors would be angry, as the hemp would "sex" the crops-for-smoke.

Yes and no. If you lived in an area where there was a lot of industrial hemp, it would be a problem. We grow a lot of crops that can cross-pollinate though. They don't because they are more likely to be pollinated by the plant next to them than one a couple of miles away. It's only really a problem if you are surrounded by the type you don't want. A good example of this is that you cannot grow non-GM canola or rape seed in most of Saskatchewan. GM canola is just too prevalent and will contaminate your fields. You can grow a variety of oats and barley though because they are secondary crops and no single strain is overly prevalent.