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http://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/doctors-reconsider-backing-governments-anti-pot-ad-campaign
Groups that represent Canadian doctors are reconsidering their involvement in a government-sponsored advertising campaign on the dangers of marijuana for young people after Liberal leader Justin Trudeau denounced the ads as a partisan attack on his position on the drug.
Health Canada had asked the Canadian Medical Association, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, and the College of Family Physicians of Canada to lend their endorsement to a $5-million broadcast campaign that would begin in the fall.
The Health Canada ads come as the Conservative Party assails Trudeau for supporting the legalization of marijuana. The party has repeatedly claimed he would make it easier for children to get the drug.
At least two of the physicians groups are now reconsidering their commitment to participate after the Citizen reported this week about concerns that the non-partisan organizations could be drawn into the politically charged debate over marijuana policy.
The Royal College said in a statement Friday that it is currently reconsidering its involvement after initially agreeing to participate.
“In light of the campaign evolving into a political debate about Canada’s marijuana policy, the Royal College is currently assessing its participation,” said the organization’s president, Dr. Andrew Padmos.
“We do not support or endorse any political campaigns on this issue and will comment further on our future involvement once a decision has been reached.”
Padmos said the Royal College was focused only on providing “advice about the health risks around prescription drug and marijuana consumption by young people.”
Although an addiction medicine committee of the College of Family Physicians of Canada had already begun its study of the ad campaign, a spokesperson said Friday its further involvement was now “being discussed.”
Under the CFPC’s agreement with Health Canada, it could withdraw from the campaign if it felt the ads were too political.
The CMA said this week that it hadn’t made a decision on whether it would participate. The association, which represents 80,000 Canadian physicians, is expected to issue a statement Saturday after its board of directors considers the matter further. The CMA is holding its annual meeting in Ottawa next week and medical marijuana is on the agenda.
Health Canada had asked the doctors’ groups only to review the ads for accuracy and agree to have their logos appear by way of endorsement. The cost of producing and broadcasting the ads would be paid by Health Canada.
But having doctors aboard would have allowed the Tories to reference the stated opposition of Canada’s doctors to drug use by teens in further attack ads aimed at the Liberal leader.
In Saskatoon on Thursday, Trudeau spoke out against Health Canada’s plan for the ad campaign.
“We know that Canadian taxpayers are getting extremely frustrated with the fact this government tends to use public money for ads that do more for its partisan aims than for actual public service,” Trudeau said.
Trudeau said he wants to control and regulate the drug to keep it away from children, adding that it can be damaging for young people whose brains are still developing.
The Tories have used Trudeau’s position on legalization in email campaigns intended to raise money from supporters. Veterans Affairs Minister Julian Fantino last month sent out a flyer accusing Trudeau of wanting to make the drug more accessible to children.
Justice Minister Peter MacKay joined the chorus of Tory attacks Friday, calling Trudeau’s call for legalization “wrong-headed, and the wrong direction for the country, and certainly the wrong direction for Canada’s youth.”
Groups that represent Canadian doctors are reconsidering their involvement in a government-sponsored advertising campaign on the dangers of marijuana for young people after Liberal leader Justin Trudeau denounced the ads as a partisan attack on his position on the drug.
Health Canada had asked the Canadian Medical Association, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, and the College of Family Physicians of Canada to lend their endorsement to a $5-million broadcast campaign that would begin in the fall.
The Health Canada ads come as the Conservative Party assails Trudeau for supporting the legalization of marijuana. The party has repeatedly claimed he would make it easier for children to get the drug.
At least two of the physicians groups are now reconsidering their commitment to participate after the Citizen reported this week about concerns that the non-partisan organizations could be drawn into the politically charged debate over marijuana policy.
The Royal College said in a statement Friday that it is currently reconsidering its involvement after initially agreeing to participate.
“In light of the campaign evolving into a political debate about Canada’s marijuana policy, the Royal College is currently assessing its participation,” said the organization’s president, Dr. Andrew Padmos.
“We do not support or endorse any political campaigns on this issue and will comment further on our future involvement once a decision has been reached.”
Padmos said the Royal College was focused only on providing “advice about the health risks around prescription drug and marijuana consumption by young people.”
Although an addiction medicine committee of the College of Family Physicians of Canada had already begun its study of the ad campaign, a spokesperson said Friday its further involvement was now “being discussed.”
Under the CFPC’s agreement with Health Canada, it could withdraw from the campaign if it felt the ads were too political.
The CMA said this week that it hadn’t made a decision on whether it would participate. The association, which represents 80,000 Canadian physicians, is expected to issue a statement Saturday after its board of directors considers the matter further. The CMA is holding its annual meeting in Ottawa next week and medical marijuana is on the agenda.
Health Canada had asked the doctors’ groups only to review the ads for accuracy and agree to have their logos appear by way of endorsement. The cost of producing and broadcasting the ads would be paid by Health Canada.
But having doctors aboard would have allowed the Tories to reference the stated opposition of Canada’s doctors to drug use by teens in further attack ads aimed at the Liberal leader.
In Saskatoon on Thursday, Trudeau spoke out against Health Canada’s plan for the ad campaign.
“We know that Canadian taxpayers are getting extremely frustrated with the fact this government tends to use public money for ads that do more for its partisan aims than for actual public service,” Trudeau said.
Trudeau said he wants to control and regulate the drug to keep it away from children, adding that it can be damaging for young people whose brains are still developing.
The Tories have used Trudeau’s position on legalization in email campaigns intended to raise money from supporters. Veterans Affairs Minister Julian Fantino last month sent out a flyer accusing Trudeau of wanting to make the drug more accessible to children.
Justice Minister Peter MacKay joined the chorus of Tory attacks Friday, calling Trudeau’s call for legalization “wrong-headed, and the wrong direction for the country, and certainly the wrong direction for Canada’s youth.”
