Under the auspices of taking action against marijuana advertising, health minister Rona Ambrose used her department to issue a highly partisan attack on Justin Trudeau. Accompanying a media release announcing plans for a task force to monitor marijuana advertising and to alert law enforcement, Ambrose issued a blistering screed that mentions Justin Trudeau by name five times in nine paragraphs. “This is in stark contrast to Justin Trudeau’s irresponsible Liberal scheme to legalize marijuana…; in a similar manner to Justin Trudeau’s irresponsible plan to legalize marijuana …; Justin Trudeau wants to legalize marijuana making it easier for youth to buy and smoke…; marijuana continue to be normalized for youth by Justin Trudeau, who also wants to allow and expand home grow operations in neighbourhoods…; remain deeply opposed to Justin Trudeau’s irresponsible scheme to legalize and normalize marijuana for youth.”

Ambrose’s letter was not posted along with the media release on the Health Canada website, but was circulated widely with the press gallery and to supporters.