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Tuesday, June 19, 2007Mistake righted offers dignity to our dead soldiers
Canadian soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan will finally be treated with the same dignity as fallen RCMP officers when it comes to their funerals.
The Defence Department quietly tucked their tales between their collective legs and admitted their mistakes by more than doubling the burial money given to the families of soldiers killed in the line of duty, bringing the military in line with support the Mounties offer members. The new rate of $12,700 came into effect amid a torrent of disbelief over unpaid funeral expenses. Better still, the money will be available to all service members killed since Canada began its involvement in Afghanistan on Oct. 7, 2001. The old rate of $4,675 had been the same for almost a decade and was no where near enough the $8,500 the average funeral costs today. Many financially strapped families of soldiers killed in Afghanistan and elsewhere were forced to borrow to make up the difference. One of those families where the parents of fallen soldier, Corporal Matthew Dinning, who came forward at a news conference on Parliament Hill to outline how they had asked for reimbursement twice in the year since their son had been killed only to receive the brush-off by Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor. The new benefits package also pays for items not previously covered, such as obituary notices, flowers and receptions following the service. Comfort to the families of fifty-seven Canadian soldiers who have been killed in Afghanistan and a handful of others have died in training accidents. Even if O'Conner won't show he has class and speak to these families and make amends at least Chief of Defence Staff General Rick Hillier showed what kind of man he is when he phoned the Dinning family to apologize for not dealing with their concerns sooner. Finally justice served even if it took embarrassing the Conservative Government and exposing just how deplorable they are. Peace, to all those who have sacrificed. Kenaz Sunday, February 25, 2007Canada,New Zealand worlds apart when dealing with aboriginal issues
Even as Canada’s longest running aboriginal standoff closes in on its one-year anniversary, the Six Nations occupation of a former housing development site in Caledonia, Ontario is not going too end anytime soon and is destined to get even dirtier.
Negotiators on both sides can't find a way to resolve the 200-year-old land claim and end the year-long occupation are still working on basic parts of the land claim, and are no where near bringing an end to a dispute that has torn apart this picturesque town. While Canada continues to deal with treaty issues in a painfully slow manner, I found this article that proves that sometimes the hare wins the race. New Zealand continues to push forward a billion-dollar settlement plan with its indigenous Maori people, ensuring everything from land rights to language preservation. According to the article, Canada has been aware of New Zealands judicial efficiency for some time. Canada has signed hundreds of treaties with First Nations groups. Some, such as the Douglas Treaties on Vancouver Island in the 1850s, even used wording from New Zealand treaties. But Canada has largely let the courts interpret First Nations land, New Zealand, meanwhile, created a standing commission called the Waitangi Tribunal to work with the courts and government. The New Zealand tribunal travels to aboriginal communities on fact-finding missions. It compares each claim with the Waitangi Treaty of 1840, which gave the British sovereignty over New Zealand in exchange for ensuring Maori land rights. The tribunal accepts evidence a court would not, such as traditional songs, stories and hearsay of the Maori people, said Williams, chief judge of the tribunal and Maori Land Court. It also handles complaints about modern-day government policies infringing on aboriginal rights. This is a unique solution to a tough problem and certainly worthy of consideration for the Caledonia problem. New Zealand will likely settle the majority of its treaty claims by 2020, for a mere $3 billion, while Canada will probably plod along wasting a lot more tax dollars than that. The article can be found at CH Hamilton by clicking on the title link. Later, Kenaz Tuesday, February 06, 2007Young offenders should be treated like adults
The Conservative government plans to introduce a bill as early as next month to treat young offenders more harshly, including an expected provision to make it automatic that violent and repeat offenders over age 13 receive adult sentences.
This is one promise contained in the Conservative election platform, which promises "to hold young lawbreakers accountable to their victims and the community." That they can ill afford to break. It is time for jail sentences for youths to reflect the growing severity of the crimes. One change would be to make it automatic for youths aged 14 and over who are repeat or violent offenders to receive heavier adult sentences, a provision that would remove the discretionary powers of a judge to decide on a case-by-case basis. As it stands, it is presumed that serious crimes will merit adult punishment, but it is not mandatory. This discretion was glaringly problematic in the Matthew Daly case, one that lead to one of his killers to walk free after timed served. The government's plan as expected will run into legal trouble, there is already a challenge, slated to be heard in the Supreme Court of Canada next fall, to the current, lenient law. The case involves a 17-year-old youth who beat another teen at a Hamilton, Ont., shopping mall. The victim eventually died from his injuries. The Ontario Court of Appeal decided last year that youths in trouble with the law should be treated as children not adults. A three-judge panel in Ontario declared that presuming youths will be punished as adults violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and that it should be up to prosecutors to present a convincing case on why youths should be punished as adults, rather than the other way around. The government also plans to add a provision to the act instructing judges to take "deterrence and denunciation" into account when sentencing youths. The principle, which already exists in the Criminal Code for adults, means imposing longer sentences to send a message to the public. The Youth Criminal Justice Act came into force almost four years ago replacing the Young Offenders Act which was a joke. This act saw a huge amount of kids walk in the front door of our jails and be turned free even before the paperwork was signed. Or not be charged with crimes such as break and enter or third degree assault because the cops knew they couldn't get a conviction because of a justice system caught in the past when kids actually feared punishment. Now it's all they know, and "wear" it like a badge of honour. Rehabilitation rather than punishment, only works if the convicted is truly ready to repent for his crimes and wants to return to society. For the other 60% (police say that the new focus has caused a 40% decrease in the number of youths serving time in jail) the proposed bill will see them lose their rights the same way they took from their victim. Of course the Liberals plan to halt the bill at all costs, they fell that, "Harsh treatment doesn't work," said Liberal justice minister, Marlene Jennings, who added that she expected that the Conservative proposals would violate the Charter of Rights guarantee that punishment must be proportionate to the crime. She said she is particularly "horrified" at the prospect of eliminating the discretion of judges to pass sentences as they see fit, on a case-by-case basis. Inconsistency amongst judges is why the justice is broke and needs to be fixed. I agree with this bill and even some new considerations that have been leaked. The government is considering going even further for 16- and 17-year-olds. A leaked memo that proposes to give the Crown discretion to use the adult justice system, not just sentencing, for youths aged 16 and 17 who are charged with murder, attempted murder, manslaughter or aggravated sexual assault. The difference is that in the youth justice system, their names are protected from publication and they do not carry a criminal record into adulthood. Hopefully this bill of hope doesn't see the shredder like many other bills that have attempted to remedy of sick justice system. Later, Kenaz Saturday, January 27, 2007$12 million will never be enough
Prime Minister Stephen Harper is announced the government has reached a legal settlement in the lawsuit filed by Maher Arar over his 2002 deportation to Syria, where he was detained on suspicion of being a terrorist and tortured. The deal is reported to be around $10.5 million plus an additional $2 million for court costs.
Arar, a Syrian-born Canadian, was detained by U.S. authorities at a New York airport in 2002 and deported to Syria, where he was imprisoned and tortured. In his lawsuit against the federal government, the former Ottawa engineer alleged negligence, negligent investigation, defamation, false imprisonment, assault and battery and abuse of public office. Last fall, a public inquiry report by Justice Dennis O'Connor found RCMP mislabelled Arar as an Islamic extremist with suspected ties to al-Qaida. The report also concluded the sharing of that misinformation with U.S. authorities likely led them to deport him. The shock waves of O'Connor's report were immediate. Then-RCMP commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli resigned over the case and apologized and so has Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Yet, American officials refuse to apologize and continue to see a wrongfully accused man as a criminal. His deportation was the most sickening example of the dangers of ''rendering'' individuals suspected of terror links to third countries for interrogation. Furthermore, Bush continues to stick to his guns; ones from another century and another time. When Americans saw those from foreign lands as a threat to their values. This week, the issue heated up and threatened to cause a rift in Canada-U.S. relations. U.S. ambassador David Wilkins scolded Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day for insisting that Arar be taken of the the U.S. watch list. Speaking to reporters in Edmonton on Wednesday, Wilkins said the U.S. administration's decision to keep Arar on the list was none of the Canadian government's business. The decision is absurdly based on personal associations and travel history. Visiting family? Just because they live in Syria? While Washington concedes these points may not warrant Arar's presence on a Canadian security roster, they meet the thresh hold for the American list. I'm sorry Mr. Wilkins, the mistreatment of our people is Canada's business even if it is by our 'friends'. The U.S can close their border permanently for all I care, but treating this man the way they did is smack right out of Orwells' '1984'. Americas' shady practice of 'extraordinary rendition,' whereby terrorism suspects are sent to regimes with spotty human-rights records for interrogation is criminal, despite what the U.S federal system thinks. To rub salt in Mr. Arars' wounds the judge ruled legislative precedent showed the Torture Victim Prevention Act, under which Arar was seeking redress, didn't apply to non-U.S. citizens. He determined the court couldn't hear the case on constitutional grounds either. Elections in the U.S couldn't come sooner, the day Bush and his draconian cronies are gone, the better the world will be. Long live democracy. Later, Kenaz Sunday, December 31, 2006Second Annual Kenaz Awards The awards for those who made the headlines in 2006 in the spirit of this site. The nominees where taken from the many posts I made this year and cover local, canadian and international persons that made headlines. Welcome to the second annual "Kenaz Awards". Still no glitz, no glamour, no expensive bling. Just a cold beer and some cheese to celebrate the stories that made you cheer,jeer,get angry,cry or say 'Good lord!". Missed The Boat Award Wednesday, May 24, 2006Please Not Another Oka
...For the sake of mankind.
The hotter things get at Caledonia, the more I fear something will happen to force an Oka or Ipperwash style incident. The more this standoff continues, the more the permanent stain of an Oka and Ipperwash threatens to surface. I'm referring to the violent confrontation at Oka, Que., in 1990 and the wrongful shooting death of Dudley George, a native protester at Ipperwash in 1995. Something is terribly wrong, first the barricades where taken down and it appeared that both sides where ready to talk. Then in a matter of a day they went back up and the roads where closed again. What the hell happened? The provincial leader and negotiators on both sides are standing around scratching their heads and pointing fingers at one another, mean while a tempest is being allowed to brew. Understandably the non-natives are upset, the roads are their life line to the community, their businesses and their lifestyle. They paid for them and they can`t use them. Along with frustration over the road blockage, there is also concern about some of the area's other land. Native protesters have been occupying a 40-hectare piece of land slated for a housing development since Feb. 28, saying it is rightfully theirs. They say they agreed to lease the property for a road in 1835, and disagree with government arguments that it was later sold to the Crown. I don`t believe in paying for the sins of our fathers, I`m sorry but the solution needs a modern answer. The land needs to be shared with adequate compensation being given to both sides. Where do we stop? Do we return every piece of land, even if a person has owned it for five generations back to it`s original owners. I`m not European, I`m a damn Canadian, just like these natives. We need to learn the lessons of all our fathers. Quit fighting and make up. Later, Kenaz Friday, May 19, 2006Ashamed of our Government
Flags for our federal leaders should be lowered to half-mast.
What kind of government is ruling our country if soldiers who have selflessly dedicated their lives to protecting us are not allowed one last show of respect? The flags at Parliament Hill should be at half-mast for the Canadian soldiers who have lost their lives in Afghanistan, and also for governments that are unwilling to respect the sacrifice they have made so the rest of us can live freely. The Canadian government lowers the Parliament Hill flags for unelected senators who have passed away, but not for the men and women serving overseas for our safety and liberty? Families of the fallen soldiers have voiced their outrage and no official response has been made. Why? Because our government is too ashamed that the death toll in Afghanistan for 2006 alone has already matched the death toll for all of 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005? I am ashamed of the actions of our government and demand that changes be made to honour those who have fallen, so the rest of us can stand united. Later, Kenaz
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An opening of one's knowledge,capabilities, vision and guidance. The Kenaz is about creating a relationship,learning and allowing room for interpretation. When you are in the darkness,an opening with light is the best and most gracious thing to have bestowed upon you. This is a great time for putting energies into new opportunities. Come share my world as I see it.
Showing posts with label canadian government. Show all posts
Showing posts with label canadian government. Show all posts
