Leaders address legalization of marijuana on campaign trail

In this composite image, Conservative Leader Stephen Harper, NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau are pictured.

The issue of drugs came up on the campaign trail Wednesday, after Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau dismissed Conservative ads suggesting his party supports the sale of marijuana in storefronts, as well as the establishment of brothels.

The ads have been published in Chinese and Indo-Canadian newspapers. The issues also came up during an all-candidates’ debate last week in Oakville, Ont., where Conservative candidate Terence Young said the Liberals support "legally-protected brothels" and "marijuana stores."

At a campaign event in Hamilton, Ont., Trudeau said the ads were another example of how the Conservatives rely on messages of fear to win support.

"We've seen over the course of this campaign, and indeed over the course of Mr. Harper's government, he never misses an opportunity to divide, to play up fear and division, and even to directly mislead Canadians," Trudeau said.

"Canadians are tired of that. Canadians want real change, and that's why we're so focused on putting forward a positive plan."

The Liberal leader said he would leave it to Stephen Harper to explain why the Conservative leader is misleading voters.

But at a Conservative campaign event in Brantford, Ont., Harper said the ads were not drawing on people's "fears,” but were simply drawing attention to his opponents’ platforms.

"The other guys will claim it's fear, when all we're trying to do is draw attention to facts," Harper said. "They run a campaign on three or four slogans, I think it's time Canadians, as we approach election day, look at the platforms."

According to the Liberal platform, if elected, the party will legalize, regulate and restrict access to marijuana. The party also says it will remove marijuana consumption and possession from the Criminal Code, while creating stronger laws to punish more severely those who provide it to minors.

But the Liberals have not said they would legalize prostitution, and have also said that their policy on marijuana does not include selling it in department stores.

On the issue of safe injection sites, Trudeau has praised Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre, when Coderre pledged earlier this year to open four safe-injection sties in the city despite objection from the federal government.

By contrast, the Conservatives have touted their "tough-on-crime" agenda.

Last June, Bill C-2 received royal assent. The bill forces facilities wishing to open a safe-injection site to meet additional requirements, but several health agencies have criticized the legislation for being “unduly onerous.”

The Conservatives are also staunchly opposed to legalizing marijuana, with Harper stating he doesn't believe legalization will keep the drug away from children.

Harper: Conservative position is 'very clear'

At the Conservative rally in Brampton, Harper reiterated his tough stance on drugs.

"Unlike the Liberals and NDP, we cannot support legalizing marijuana," said Harper.

"And we will keep fighting to keep drug injection sites out of your communities."

When asked earlier on Wednesday Wednesday why the Conservatives were associating with former Toronto mayor Rob Ford -- who famously admitted in 2013 to smoking crack cocaine -- Harper declined to comment.

Ford and his brother, former Toronto city councillor Doug Ford, were at a Conservative campaign event on Tuesday, and they are hosting a rally for the Conservatives on the weekend.

Harper said he would not cast judgments, and that the Conservative position on drugs is very clear.

"Our position on these issues are very clear," Harper said. "I'm not going to cast those kinds of judgments. Our platform is very clear and the support of that family for our party is longstanding and well known."

Mulcair: Full legalization 'can't be done overnight'

Meanwhile, at a campaign event in Nova Scotia, NDP Leader Tom Mulcair was asked to clarify his position on the legalization of marijuana.

Mulcair said that the NDP supports the immediate decriminalization of the personal possession and use of marijuana, but legalization will take more time.

"We've been saying all along is that you have to make sure that no Canadian ever receives again a criminal record overnight for simple possession for personal purposes and personal use of marijuana," he said. "That's something that can be done overnight. What can't be done overnight is full legalization."

The NDP leader said it will take more work and consultations with health officials, public security officials and with the police before full legalization can be achieved.

"We can decriminalize overnight, the rest – and that's the direction it's going in – will just take more time."

With files from The Canadian Press