Pot party candidate runs again
By: Joe Millican, Abbotsford News, 09-13-08

Abbotsford voters have a fifth name to consider when Canada chooses its next government on Oct. 14.

Marijuana Party candidate Tim Felger confirmed on Thursday that he will make a fresh bid to become Abbotsford's next member of parliament. He will take on already-confirmed candidates Ed Fast (Conservative), Lionel Traverse (Liberal), Bonnie Rai (NDP) and Karen Durant (Green).

While the legalization of marijuana is central to Felger's platform, he says he will be focusing on a number of issues including homelessness and the economy.

Felger received 334 votes in the last federal election in 2006, which equated to 0.7 per cent of the total votes cast. Fast won the election with 29,825 votes.

While acknowledging that he is unlikely to win, Felger believes he could secure 4,000 votes in 2008.

"That was then and this is now. We now have more dead kids on the street and a different economic situation. I have been telling people we have been heading to this economic collapse for years," he said.

"Federally, I hope to expose Stephen Harper as being a confidence trickster . . . This is probably the most important election we have ever faced."

Felger has already started putting up signs, and says he has others on order which claim "9/11 was an inside job."

He further alleges that Canada's peacekeepers in Afghanistan "are guarding the oil fields," and claims that members of the U.S.'s Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) are "drug dealers."

In terms of marijuana, while he doubts that the plant will ever be legalized, he points out that his philosophy is simple.

"The central issue is who owns your body and has the right to decide what goes in it," he said.

Felger has had a tendency over the years to run for office in municipal, provincial and federal elections, but has so far failed in each bid.

He is undeterred by that fact.

"I am about zero for nine, and I am proud of that," he added.

As well as being on the federal ballot, Felger is also planning to run for the position of Abbotsford mayor during the Nov. 15 municipal election.

2004 H.U.M.A.N.: Hemp Users Medical Access Network - Toronto Medical Marijuana