A motion to decriminalize marijuana will be introduced today in the House of Commons.
Despite election promises, this isn`t the government’s work.
The NDP are forcing their hand by using their opposition day motion to call the vote.
According to Statistics Canada, 60,000 people are arrested for possession every year and a third of those will have criminal records as a result.
NDP Justice Critic Murray Rankin says this is wrong.
“We’re spending a lot of money for going after people that will soon be engaged in perfectly legal activity.”
Rankin says this affects many young people.
He says he doesn’t see the logic in ruining someone’s life for something that will soon be legal.
“She will be the last person chosen for a job in this tough economy. Because who’s going to hire someone with a criminal record? They’ll go to the bottom of the list.”
Rankin says he will introduce the motion today and expects a vote sometime this week.
