You just have to love a day full of items that you can comment on. Of course my favorite person was in the news today but I'll save him for last. In case you are a first time reader that would be my Vic Toews.
First item on the plate, the hot issue--or so I think it could be shortly enough--is an item out of Winnipeg. The story goes something along the lines that a boy who has Spina bifida was locked in a shed which was put on fire. He survived with smoke inhalation. The real sad part about the story is the age of the individuals who did this to this young man. They are all under the age of 12. From what I have gathered there were about five children ranging in age from 8 to 11. This news item comes at a time when there is much talk in the Parliament from the Cons to lower the age of criminal responsibility to 10. The current YCJA has the criminal responsibility at 12. After reading this story a large majority of Canadians are going to think that the age should be lowered to 10. I, however, think that the people of Canada should think cautiously about this.
I won't go into the developmental considerations one needs to make regarding this issue. This kind of event is where a holistic approach needs to be taken. Prevention and intervention go a lot farther than locking these kids up. What the community needs to do in this situation is figure out what approach they will take. Can they be violators of human rights and lock these kids up? I hope that they choose a higher path. These kids do need to be held accountable for their actions, as do their parents, but putting them on trial is not the solution. We're very fortunate that this young gentleman survived the incident. I think in this instance a community justice circle is needed for both the survivor and his family and the children who committed this act and their families. The community needs to heal and it can not do that properly by coming down on these children.
Some people will ask what about this gentleman--Brian McKay? What about his human rights to live and be free of harm. They are absolutely correct to say this. I ask what purpose would it serve Brian if his accusers were to be locked up? Revenge at best. Brian will need to heal, he'll need to ask his accusers why and they will have to tell him why. I think this serves a better means of solace for all.
Next item on the agenda for me. A sad story out of Montreal. For the second time in three days there has been a murder of a woman at the hands of a man who is suppose to love her. Three days earlier a husband killed his two children and wife before trying to kill himself. This has always been a worrisome issue for me. Again it boils down to where are the tax paying dollars going? Not to protecting vulnerable people but to the fat wallets of big industry. This story is on the heels of the Barrie case that occurred a couple weeks ago. Agencies and government came under fire for not protecting the children of that case. I always find it a sad state of affairs when women and children die at the hands of those that are suppose to love them, care for them and keep them safe. What I find even sadder is the fact that this current government does not seem to care about the plight of women and children. There is not equality and the government has made it so by decreasing the funding to Status of Women and by removing the word "equality" from the mandate of that Ministry.
Next item on my agenda is the call for Ottawa to use the crimes against humanity legislation for the indictment of Robert Mugabe. I think that Ottawa should hear this call and put forward the motion to indict Robert Mugabe for the crimes he did commit. Not only should they do it for him but I think Canada can set a great example of what kind of human rights violations they are willing to tolerate. In my opinion there should be no room for movement on human rights violations. If a person is suspected of committing crimes against humanity they should be put on more than the Amnesty International watch list. There should be NO TOLERATION of this kind of injustice. Canada needs to send a message to would be criminals that what they are going to or are doing is wrong and there are consequences for their actions.
Now on to some good news. Good news coming from the Liberals--shocking I know. At the provincial level here in Ontario, Dalton McGuinty has agreed to add character education to the curriculum. That means that kids are going to be taught social skills in their education. This is a great announcement. I like that kids are taught to be kinder to one another, and taught about respect and responsibility. This is a great preventative strategy that will hopefully prevent the above mentioned acts from occurring.
Now for my favorite person. He's never too far from the news that Justice Minister of mine. Today he introduced the three strikes you're out legislation. I'm glad to see the opposition called him on the misguided piece of crap. Toews, a supposed lawyer turned politician, dismisses all the academic studies that have suggested that the tough on crime approach doesn't work. He's also in the habit of dismissing the fact that this piece of legislation will not survive a constitutional challenge. What a joker that Mr. Toews, dismissing smart people. A criminologist from that right wing think tank SFU even agrees with the lefties on that issue of the three strikes rule. It hasn't worked in the US so why would it work here? It's not a matter of being left or right, it's a matter of understanding the fact that tough on crime is a waste of money period. That in itself should be enough ammo for the consideration against the three strikes law.
My favorite quote from him today is the following :
"It absolutely will act as a deterrent,” Toews said. “It is
not unconstitutional, we have considered it very carefully.”
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