CANADA'S VIEWS ON COMMISSION ON NARCOTIC DRUGS

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 000331 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR INL CHRISTINE CLINE, KATHLEEN PALA. E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/04/2013 TAGS: PREL AORC SNAR UN CA SUBJECT: CANADA'S VIEWS ON COMMISSION ON NARCOTIC DRUGS MEETING REF: STATE 19274 Classified By: PolMinCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) This is an action request -- see para 7. ¶2. (C) Summary: Canada generally supports the aims of the resolution on Screening and Briefing intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) that the U.S. will present at the March 10-14 Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) meeting. However, as treatment service delivery is a provincial matter in Canada, it would not support a resolution that requires the federal government to take action on this issue. Regarding the U.S. resolution on cannabis, Canada would likely not vote against the resolution, but would not sponsor it, either. Canada does not intend to introduce any resolutions at the CND meeting. Canada hopes that the UN General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on Drugs ten-year review will be results-oriented, and that the U.S. and EU will share their policy priorities so that countries are prepared to make progress towards specific goals at the meeting. End summary. ¶3. (C) According to Health Canada Drug Strategy and Controlled Substances Program Acting Director General Ray Edwards and Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) International Crime and Terrorism Division Deputy Director Jennifer Irish, Canada is generally supportive of the broad aims of the SBIRT resolution of the U.S. However, as Canadian treatment service delivery falls under provincial jurisdiction, Canada would not support a resolution obliging federal governments to take action on this issue. Edwards confirmed to poloff that Canada would, however, likely support a resolution suggesting and encouraging screening and intervention procedures. ¶4. (C) Edwards said that Canada would likely not vote against the U.S. resolution on cannabis, but that it would not sponsor it. Edwards called cannabis a "tricky" issue for Canada. He noted that, as Canada was one of the few countries to offer a medical marijuana program, it would be in an "awkward position" to sponsor a resolution on the harmful effects of cannabis. Edwards predicted that, in addition to its concerns with the broad theme of the resolution, Canada would propose a number of specific changes to the resolution's wording. ¶5. (C) Edwards commented that, now the EU had proposed a process for the UNGASS ten-year review, the big question was what next. He emphasized that Canada did not want the review simply to establish another set of broad aspirations. He opined that the review should instead focus on establishing practical goals to accomplish in a set time period. He explained that, to this end, Canada would like to find out the specific policy directions and outcomes that the U.S. and EU envision for the process. Ms. Irish added that, while Canada had not fully determined its own final policy priorities, Canada would propose that the review focus on assessing where we are ten years after the initial UNGASS commitments, determining what worked and what did not, and discussing the impact of new developments. She noted that Canada would be happy to share lessons learned from its National Anti-Drug Strategy, as well as its experiences in Afghanistan. ¶6. (SBU) Canada does not intend to introduce any resolutions at the March 10-14 CND meeting, according to the Canadian officials. Edwards will lead Canada's delegation to the meeting. Other delegation members will include: Health Canada Office of Controlled Substances Director Carole QCanada Office of Controlled Substances Director Carole Bouchard, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade International Drug Policy Advisor Theresa LaDouceur, Justice Canada Policy Analyst Kuan Li, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Drug Operations Officer Sgt. Mike MacLean, Health Canada Drug Strategy and Controlled Substances Program International Coordinator and Policy Analyst Mark Edwards, and Permanent Mission of Canada to the International Organizations in Vienna representative David Nelson. NGOs representatives, including Canadian Executive Council on Addictions President Gail Czukar and Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse Manager Doug Beirness, will also be part of the delegation. ¶7. (SBU) Action requests from Health Canada and DFAIT: -- expected composition of the U.S. delegation; -- additional information on U.S. specific policy directions and outcomes for the review (para 5); and, -- U.S. views on resolutions from other countries, including Mexico, Iran, and Pakistan. Visit Canada,s Economy and Environment Forum at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/can ada WILKINS