Health Minister Rona Ambrose says a new anti-drug campaign isn't asking doctors to take a partisan view on marijuana. She says if anything, it's Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau who has politicized the issue.
Ambrose's comments come after three groups that represent Canadian doctors – the College of Family Physicians of Canada, Canadian Medical Association and Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada – declined to take part in Health Canada's upcoming anti-drug campaign targeting young people.
In a joint statement issued on Saturday, Canada's doctors said they were invited "to co-brand and provide expert advice” on the public campaign, initiated and funded by Health Canada.
"The educational campaign has now become a political football on Canada's marijuana policy and for this reason the CFPC, CMA and Royal College will not be participating. We did not, and do not, support or endorse any political messaging or political advertising on this issue," Canada's doctors said.
Ambrose spoke about the marijuana smoking cessation campaign for youth on Monday following a speech in Ottawa to the Canadian Medical Association — one of the three groups that said it would not be taking part in Health Canada's anti-drug campaign.
"Telling kids to not smoke pot is not a partisan attack on Justin Trudeau by Health Canada. It is a sound public health policy backed by science.
"Whether pot is legal or illegal, the health risks of marijuana to youth remains the same and we should all be concerned about them," Ambrose said on Monday.
Despite several Conservative ads attacking Trudeau for his stance on legalizing marijuana in recent weeks, Ambrose said it was Trudeau who is politicizing the issue.
"Justin Trudeau made this a political issue by saying Health Canada's anti-marijuana campaign was a thinly-veiled attack on him."
Ambrose urged doctors to get on the same page as Health Canada.
"I encourage the medical community to be very clear on their message so we don't send a mixed message. Telling kids not to smoke marijuana is not politics, it is good public health policy and it's based on science."
More to come.