Senator Campbell Answers Justice Minister Nicholson

Conservative government the one playing politics with crime
Vancouver Sun
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Page: A9
Section: Editorial
Byline: Larry Campbell
Column: Larry Campbell
Source: Special to the Sun

I have had the opportunity to witness the impact of crime from a number of different perspectives over the course of my career -- as an RCMP officer walking the streets, as a chief coroner looking into death, as a mayor responsible to the residents of Vancouver, and now as a senator engaged in examining the merits of anti-crime legislation.

I understand the serious effects that crime can have on a community and its residents.

More prominently, however, I have become acutely aware of the way that the psyches of people can be compromised when their personal safety or the sanctity of their family's security is put at risk.

This is why I have no patience for those who use fear as a means to an end. I am regularly angered by the way the media sensationalize crime, often reporting an opposite interpretation of the facts, which state that Canada's crime rate fell in 2006 to its lowest level in 25 years.

In the same fashion, I am absolutely incensed by the way that the Conservative government is playing politics with crime, particularly when it comes to the Canadian Senate.

In recent weeks, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and several of his cabinet ministers have accused Liberal senators of holding up the government's proposed crime bills.

These claims are that much more offensive after the tragic shooting death in Toronto of 11-year-old Ephraim Brown, which has sparked individuals like Justice Minister Rob Nicholson to accuse our Senate caucus of stymieing the legislation for stronger mandatory minimum sentences.

Well, this tactic of political manipulation has got me angrier than hell, and I am not going to stand silent any longer. First, let me provide a couple of basic facts.

The Conservative government has introduced a total of 13 justice bills in the past year. Seven have received royal assent, two are still being debated in the House of Commons, and the Senate is working on the final four, all of which have been in the upper chamber for less than two months.

Five of the seven bills that have passed faced absolutely no amendments from the Senate, instead offering observations designed to guide both the House of Commons and Canadians in interpreting the new laws.

Truth be told, it is actually the prime minister who has shown a disingenuous concern for his legislative justice agenda by refusing to accept a deal from the Liberals to fast-track justice legislation, which has consequently left several bills flapping in the wind over the summer. Additionally, the possibility of proroguing when the House of Commons returns brings the prospect that all bills sitting before the Senate will be required to start over again at first reading -- if, that is, a senator reintroduces them.

Of the four justice bills in front of the Senate, there are several substantive concerns that must be addressed before they become law. For example, Bill C-22 makes no distinction between sexual predators and sexually immature teens when it comes to the potential of being classified as a registered sex offender, and Bill C-35 provides preferential treatment to criminals who commit violent offences that do not involve a gun.

Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada's first prime minister (a Conservative), stated that the Senate was to be a place of "sober second thought" so that legislation would receive proper, careful consideration before finally becoming law. Thus, it is my duty to provide a proper examination of the issues, regardless of whether a piece of legislation originates from a Conservative government or Liberal government.

Partisan politics has never served as my motivation behind assessing matters that relate to law and order and the safety of the Canadian public.

Falsely accusing Liberal senators of stalling legislation, using the death of a child for political gain, or triggering people's fears based on misinformation, is governance of the worst kind.

These tactics only serve to reinforce the cynicism Canadians feel towards politicians and increase the public's concern that government officials are not representing their constituents and communities.

It's time to be truthful with Canadians, to accept that those who represent other parties are not always the enemy, and for Harper to grasp the concept of cooperation for the greater good.

Deceivin' Stephen Does it Again

In an attempt to appear environmentally friendly Stephen Harper announced a rebate for people purchasing fuel efficient cars...up to $2000 worth.

Much to our surprise (NOT), nobody has received a single rebate cheque to date - five months later!

LLPOF!!!

CDFAI's Bob Bergen Says Opposition must Support Harper's Afghan Mission

Bob Bergen, who is a Research Fellow at the Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute in Calgary has published an op-ed piece across the MSM. Mr. Bergen states in the piece"the Liberals have a moral obligation to help Harper's government finish what the Liberals themselves helped start"

Now, does anyone else that's Liberal feel the same obligation Mr. Bergen suggests? I, for one, do not.

In reading Mr. Bergen's op-ed in The Review today, I couldn't help but think his message is one skewed to influence Canadians to support the Conservative agenda for a further extension of the Canadian mission past our current 2009 agreement.

While Mr. Bergen brings into play the Afghanistan Compact and extols the virtues of how well the agreement is being implemented, there are many groups around the world that argue that the premise of the agreement and its goals could never be met by 2010. In fact, on January 30, 2007, Sam Zarifi, Asia research director of Human Rights Watch, declared, "Afghanistan hasn't really met any of the benchmarks, particularly those addressing the well-being of Afghan people." Zarifi further contends more Afghani civilians were killed and/or displaced in 2006 then in 2005.

Earlier this month, The Senlis Group released another damning report.
Edward McCormick, the country director in Afghanistan for the Senlis Council, told CTV's Question Period that Canada needs to do more to ensure that projects are carried out in the region.McCormick, who lives in Kandahar, said despite what is being said in the House of Commons, he is seeing few CIDA development projects carried out in southern Afghanistan.

"There may be something going on in the north where areas are more secure, where it has been possible to have schools set up for girls, but it's not happening in the south."

"Instead when I walk into the villages and refugee camps, which I do daily, I'm seeing children dying of starvation."

Mr. Bergen further asserts that the Harper government sought and received a Parliamentary mandate to extend the Afghan mission in 2006. Quite the contrary. Stephen Harper threatened an election if the mission wasn't extended. Only a half hour of debate was allowed, and during that time, most Conservative members were not in the House. Opposition MPs were not privy to the nature of Canada's new mission. Seeing that Canadians didn't want another election, Harper's blackmail ploy was successful.

As for Paul Martin sending troops over to Afghanistan along side the Americans in October 2001? It was Jean Chretien that was Prime Minister at the time, not Paul Martin. The world was reeling from the tragedy of 9/11, and Canada was to only play a supporting role in Afghanistan and one of rebuilding. (I would expect a Ph.D. employed as a Research Fellow would research who the PM was)

We continue to lose or young men an women serving in the Afghan theatre - more in the past 12 months than all the other years combined. We will lose more if this mission isn't changed or ended. Are we willing to make that sacrifice as Canadians?

I agree with Mr. Bergen - more debate is needed. It's needed because it wasn't debated in the first place. So, yes, the Parliamentary Committee on National Defence has recommended said debate. I look forward to that debate in 2008. As Mr. Bergen states, the NDP and Liberals are already against an extension. I would hazard a guess that if the Vandoos of Quebec begin to lose fine young men and women, the Bloc will have no choice but to support the rest of the opposition. Quebecers already detest the mission at a 75% opposition rate.

Should we continue to support the mission in Afghanistan financially? Yes. Should we continue to send our troops in harm's way as part of an attack force? No. We, as Canadians, can still implement our objectives without the involvement of our military and the risk of losing more of our young people.

Catholic School Board Circles the Wagons...

...or, in this case, the building.

Just another way to stem the tide of crime. The Toronto District Catholic School Board is being proactive about keeping their students safe and sound. This summer the Board is investing $700k to keep their students out of harm's way.

With any luck, that other school board will think of doing something similar.

Oh, and here's a tip for the Attorney General and Justice Minister of Canada. Mandatory jail time for anyone caught on these cameras near a school yard selling drugs, carrying a weapon, committing a violent crime. That might just beat blaming the Liberal Senators for gun crimes.

McGuinty & Bryant Teach Nicholson a Lesson

A $26 Million Guns and Gangs task force has been announced by the Ontario Liberals. Unlike the Federal Minister of Justice, McGuinty knows where the heart of the matter is.

Now if Mr. Nicholson could only think of a way to be creative about stopping guns coming into the country instead of blaming it on the Liberal Senators.

Hillier's Had Enough?

Today the Canadian Armed Forces talking head finally threw a wet blanket on the Conservative military rhetoric.

We don't need new units says he. Field Marshall O'Connor will have fun with this one for the next little while trying to defend himself and lyin' Stephen for spending billions of unsanctioned military dollars.

Nicholson on Gun Laws: It's the Liberals Fault

Hilarious. Absolutely hilarious.

Ms. Jennings has the perfect response.

Rob, I have a newsflash for you. Sentencing "after the fact" does not stem the incredible ongoing use of hand guns currently in effect in our major cities. Getting to the root of the problem is the answer.

The key would be to assist inner-city programs that target high risk children in families that are subject to such violence. Another key would be to fund task forces that target gangs, etc. such as Dalton McGuinty just announced for the Golden Horseshoe. McGuinty's plan to meet with the Governors of the border states is another key to stopping the flow of illegal weapons coming in from our neighbour to the south. After the fact legislation is not the answer to ending gun related crimes.

Why isn't the Minister of Justice for the country starting such initiatives? Especially one that represents four international bridges as part of his constituency?

Blaming gun crimes and deaths of 11 year olds on Liberal Senators is a stretch at best Mr. Nicholson.

So Much for Getting Rid of The Catholic School Boards

A few bloggers recently demonstrated some errant commentary on whether or not we should discard the Catholic School Boards here in Ontario. Of course, being a Catholic, I let out a medium-sized distaste for said commentary. While many other bloggers sided with said commentators, there were an equal number opposed.

Anyhow, John Tory has opened up a can of whup ass with his announcement yesterday. you see, Mr. Tory fully understands the popularity of faith-based education and the amount of votes one might obtain if one can pull it off.

Offering Bill Davis up as a moderator of public opinion in the matter makes it even more laudable. The same Davis that put forward funding to the Catholics in the 80's. Not only does Tory garner votes from religious education supporters of all walks of life, he now gets the votes of the Catholics. You see the Catholics will shore up their Separate School Boards with the notion that other religious-based groups will now be on par and have no reason to oppose their funding.

Tory plans on funding Islamic, Jewish, Hindu and even Christian schools. Now, who's gonna argue with that? Certainly not those bloggers calling for the dismantling of the Catholic School Board. Isn't their argument all about the bias against other faith-based schooling being left out in the cold?

P.S. The logo at the top is my alma mater. I paid tuition there for grades 11-13. I paid for my books and uniforms too. I had to work my butt off during the summer to do it too. Two years after my graduation, Bill Davis put an end to that. Thanks Bill.

P.P.S. Sapere Aude in the logo is a Latin phrase meaning "Dare to know" or "Dare to be wise", or sometimes translated as "Have courage to use your own reason". Thustly I reason.

The O'Connor Scandal???

Coming soon to a front page near you.

You know, I just have to laugh at this. The Conservatives, who don't mind playing the "ADSCAM" card at the drop of a hat, should look into the crystal ball and see what's in store for them.

Spending $22 Billion on "new" military equipment without debate in the House of Commons is one thing. Spending it because it was on "Gordon O'Connors list" is quite another.

Gordon O'Connor. The man who spent 8 years as a military lobbyist. Yes that O'Connor. The same O'Connor that thinks our mission is successful in Afghanistan inspite of little setbacks such as this occurance.

Do ya think it's a conflict that a military lobbyist made up a "things to buy list"? Ya think any of these companies that we're ordering this new equipment from employed O'Connor as a lobbyist?

Looking forward to your responses.

200 Million Dollars!!!

If you say it really fast, all you'll hear is two dollars. But Gordon O'Connor swears there's no politics when it comes to the Military.

$200 Million

Over 20 years - $10 Million a year.

Over 200 students - $50,000 per student per year.

Not bad for a CEGEP. (If you're gonna do it, do it right. Give them back the University status)

Spend it if you got it. A billion here. A billion there. Here a billion. There a billion. Everywhere a billion billion.