By Malcolm McColl

For CWC MAGAZINE

Canadians often hear about high participation rates for First Nations in this country's justice system; as if the Aboriginal people are perceived to be more active from the point of view of committing crimes. Is it true? Does the decrepid Indian Act produce a disgruntled demographic that finds little to discern between Indian Reservation and incarceration?

Apparently not really. Aboriginal crime does differ from non-Aboriginal crime, however; at least according to a Canadian study by criminologists Mary Hyde and Carol LaPrairie. They found Aboriginal people in more violent offenses, fewer property offenses, more social disorder offenses, higher overall rates of crime, "and a strong relationship between alcohol abuse and crime."

They were able to suggest that a culture of alcohol and drug fueled violence persisted on some but not all of Canada's 690-plus Indian Reservations. They found that the reserves across the country with high crime rates were those located close to urban locations, and often contained higher median incomes than the rest of Canada's Indian Reserves.

Hyde and LaPrairie said, "We believe that there is a higher rate of crime among Aboriginal people, but we also believe that over-policing and system discrimination within the justice system contribute greatly to it." Statistics show that not all reserves have high crime rates, indeed, some have way lower than average crime rates. Apparently police turn the wheels through First Nation communities that reside too close to cities.

The Aboriginal Justice Implementation Commission of Manitoba released a study in 1999 that stated, "From our review of the information available to us, including the nature of the crimes committed by Aboriginal people, and after hearing the hundreds of submissions presented to us in the course of our hearing, we believe that the relatively higher rates of crime among Aboriginal people are a result of the despair, dependency, anger, frustration, and sense of injustice prevalent in Aboriginal communities, stemming from the cultural and community breakdown that has occurred over the past century."

Aboriginal policing history in Canada begins at the beginning. The federal government says that from Confederation to the early 1900s "Indian Band Constables played an essential role in maintaining peace and order in Aboriginal communities. These constables were Aboriginal and their role was to address local policing issues, including the enforcement of band by-laws," a limited jurisdiction that saw external police authorities take command, and it all created inexplicable frictions (especially in the face of changing political realities in First Nation communities).

Aboriginal policing changed in the 1960s and 1970s to follow the changes in political activity on reserves, and the change involved the employment of Aboriginal peoples in a comprehensive policing role. The federal government says, "In 1977, the Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council Police Department became the first self-administered, Aboriginal police service in Canada." (http://www.psepc.gc.ca)

To police First Nation communities the federal government passed the First Nations Police Policy in 1991 and began to overcome inconsistent presence and inadequate training of Aboriginal officers in Canada. Under the FNPP, First Nations, the federal government, and provincial and territorial governments negotiate policing agreements. "The police are either administered by the First Nations themselves, or administered by the RCMP through a dedicated, on-reserve police service."

The government has signed 142 FNPP agreements to provide services to 319 Aboriginal communities for a total population of almost 240,000. They have put 1000 police officers to work under the program, "most of whom are Aboriginal." Remember that with First Nations governance gradually turning away from the Indian Act and manifesting new management (at the very least) of their communities, no doubt the evolution of Aboriginal police policy will continue in Canada.

CRIME DIALOGUE:
Crime and prevention

CRIME CONTENTS JUL 07 07

• GUILTY! of the murder of three family members in Medicine Hat

• On-going testimony from the drug crazed ends on Pickton Trial

• Rwanda genocide dialogue conplicated by lack of retribution in actual state where genocide occurs

• Lethbridge, Alberta, has a problem with racism but it is rarely discussed

• Holly Desimone says Canada is safe haven for criminals, calls for National Strategy against sexual violence crimes

• MAY 31 07 Crime legislation received Royal Assent, moves to Senate

• Another mass shooting in another U.S. campus

• The Lucifer Effect by Philip Zimbardo

• The more things change the more they stay the same

• First Nation policing a work in progress

• RCMP Commissioner resignation: Ongoing discourse on RCMP

• Tasers putting electricity to good use

• New technology for pumping and paying coast to coast

• Reverse Onus introduced to criminal law in Canada

Crime Index

Facilitator

A determined family wins the day
and a government apology

What is wrong in the city of Lethbridge? Whatever it is, they sure keep it a secret. One time a friend of mine from Enoch Cree Nation went to live in Lethbridge and study at the university. He was severely beaten and changed forever. His brain was damaged from the beating and nobody ever sought or saw justice in the case, of course. My friend, a frankly big individual if ever I saw one, was a peaceful, loving person. He played hockey, a towering figure on defense, and nobody ever scrapped with him. But a gang of Lethbridgians caught him unawares and alone, which is apparently bad news for an Aboriginal in Lethbridge, and he's paid the price for two decades ever since. It's bad in Lethbridge, and yet, the Blood Nation people are extraordinarily peace-loving and communicative. So what gives with this story > > > LETHBRIDGE HERALD!

”We started end of January,” 2007, "to organize an event," (May 12 07, Edmonton, see below), "to raise awareness about the inexplicable loss of life of Aboriginal women,” explained April Eve Wiberg, she, who described, a society of unequal conditions put upon Aboriginal women. She wonders at the supposed-to-be egalitarian society with its much-touted multi-cultural values, opposite the harassment of a group, based on sex and race, into lives of poverty and separation, leading many Aboriginal women into lives of despair and often malfeasance at the hands of pimps, johns, rapists, and murderers.

It is a shocking fact 50 percent of the women who disappeared off the scene in the DES of Vancouver were First Nation and Aboriginal descendant. A similarly alarming situation is underway around Edmonton at the moment, with women disappearing and dying and the proportion of Native women in the group, again, off the scale, in relation to Aboriginal demographics in Canada (2.7 percent of Canadian population).

April Eve used word-of-mouth and the internet to start the momentum of the Stolen Sisters March, May 12, 07, at the Canadian Friendship Centre in Edmonton. “Towards the end we created the poster, and distributed press releases to Edmonton media. We wanted to raise awareness. We consider it an epidemic of loss.” She said, “According to research 500 missing and murdered Aboriginal women can be counted in the past 20 years, many of the cases remaining unsolved," and these Canadian women are the forgotten of contemporary society, a sort of ‘disappeared’ group.

April Eve pulled no punches, "It is racial discrimination added to violence versus women. It has many sources, including the self-esteem of the women involved, many of whom suffered as a result of systemic discrimination,” residential school remnants, poverty, street life. She has many of her own experiences to recount, having been raised in a non-Native environment in southern Saskatchewan. The racism in this region of Canada rises to bitter levels and exists on both sides of the racial divide. The Cree and Sioux, Dakota and Ojibway, often express a wish they had never met a white man. The RCMP headquarters for training and recruitment were likely established in Regina as a visual bulwark against the First Nations.

“Southern Saskatchewan showed me and my sister a lot of racism. The racisim followed us to Edmonton,” she noted, “when we were teenagers walking to the store we were harrassed by ‘johns’, and both of us have felt stereotyped in so many ways.” The women who become stolen are often those separated from families, and when they go missing the authorities usually fail to proceed far into investigations. She said the Stolen Sisters march and other activities are an effort to make police and society to afford Aboriginal women the same levels of protection as other women.

“All levels of government have to work together and apply tougher sentences to the criminals who harm these women. "Even today I am stereotyped where I live and walk to the store or out in the evening," for being a Cree woman. Stolen Sisters non-registered group of volunteers, “We wanted to raise awareness not money. People have no idea of (even) the statistics, never mind the underlying causes like systemic racism and genocide. “ (More on the genocide in this context coming tomorrow)

Muriel Stanley Venne is President and founder of the Institute for Advancement of Aboriginal Women , and was at the march to speak and provide supporters. “They have the same goals,” and is another organization born in Edmonton, “They established the National Esquao Awards.” April Eve visited New Mexico this spring to attend the Gathering Of Nations, “Ten thousand visitors watched the Grand Entry, Miss Indian World, and pow wow dance competitions. It’s a three day event for all nations. They have a huge 'Indian market,'" a term she dislikes, ‘indian’, but recognizes US nations using the term with liberality.

Email Stolen Sisters [April Eve Wiberg supplied this mini biography: I am 30 years old, from the Mikisew Cree First Nation. I currently live in Edmonton. I work as a marketing coordinator for the group of companies owned by my First Nation. Born in Saskatchewan, I grew up without my mother. I lived in an isolated and abusive household with my father, stepmother and siblings. My sister and I were targets of racism in the small town school we attended. At the age of 16, I made the decision to move to Edmonton to live with my mother. She was a low income single mother, raising 3 of my siblings. In both situations, my sisters, brothers and I were surrounded by alcohol and violence. I remember being scared most of the time. I didn’t trust anyone. By age 17, I was on my own. I dropped out of high school and started working low paying jobs. I was in and out of abusive relationships. I often used drugs and alcohol as a way to numb the pain of my childhood. After several years of drifting from city to city, job to job, boozing and drugging, I found myself back in Edmonton. My life had no direction and I was consumed with bitterness. I wanted to change my life, but in order to do that, I had to admit to myself that I was an addict and alcoholic. Through my sobriety, I have regained my spirit. I have also found my voice. With a new direction in life, I am doing what I can to stop the cycle of abuse, addiction and racism.]

Wiberg’s suggested further reading on North American genocide: the Year was 1864 at Sand Creek Colorado, a massacre of Cheyenne and Arapaho, by orders to have them killed and scalped, “all, big and little, because nits make lice,” (huh?). Sand Creek Massacre Memorial

It regards the high percentage loss of life or disappearance of Aboriginal women in Canada. April-Eve Wiberg and other organizers met at the Canadian Native Friendship Centre and marched with hundreds of supporters around a large radius of about ten square blocks. It was a casual affair well attended by Edmonton's media.

The Stolen Sisters Awareness March was created to raise awareness and to honor the missing and murdered First Nations, Métis, and Inuit women of Canada. Aboriginal women account for less than 3% of the entire Canadian population. In the last 20 years, approximately 500 of our sisters have been murdered or have gone missing. "We must demand justice and the protection of those still at risk." Honoring Our Sisters included a feast after the noon-o'clock march and Healing With Laughter starring Don Burnstick.

A Hip-Hop Performance by GAMEOVER ENTERTAINMENT featuring the YOUNGUNNAZ, and Edmonton’s own Sean Bernard. Admission was also free. Performances have been donated by the artists to the SSAM The CNFC facilities were donated by the Canadian Native Friendship Centre. For more information about further initiatives contact April Eve @ (780) 642-1639 Thank you! Hai hai!

CALGARY - April '07 - "Canada is safe haven for criminals and we have no tracking of convicts after they are released from Corrections Canada," said Holly Desimone, "and this tracking deficiency includes convicts facing deportation." Holly is a crime prevention advocate with a long term committment to changing laws and improving the safety of Canadian women.

"The convicted criminal facing deportation reports to the RCMP," she said, "and often then escapes custody through gaps in interprovincial policing," where RCMP do not operate, for example, to Quebec and Ontario. "This is wrong to lose track of criminals."

Problems rise because, "two federal government ministers are unable to agree (one: Monty Solberg, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration; the other, Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety) on custody of the convict before deportation."

Visit her blog for the full account in Readers Digest http://fighttostopviolence.blogspot.com Holly went through a life changing experience from rape 15 years ago in Red Deer, Alberta.She never stopped pursuit of a globe-trotting serial rapist from Iran named Ali Rasai, who expertly transgressed international borders for years trying to escape the inevitable.

Hot pursuit of Holly Desimone made him face testimony in a Canadian court of law and her successful chase ultimately led to his conviction for rape and sentencing to nearly 10 years in prison. She said, "My main message is to report if you are sexually assaulted. Get to the police to launch the complaint. Date rape or whatever, if you cannot report, still seek out medical treatment immediately."

She has been a successful advocate for making changes to laws to protect society. Furthermore, she promotes education for front line workers in rape trauma situations. A necessary program development follows training of nurses and hospital personnel in treating rape victims, she says, and specially trained nurses are needed to facilitate information gathering from rape reports.

"Somebody has to maintain a presence and a steady hand during procedures and all phases of examination." The process requires a better effort to balance physical demands off against emotional support and understanding. SAIN? It is a program taught to nurses, says Holly, which has been limited to a few hospitals in Canada thus far.

Clinical situations for treatment of rape include photographs, swaps for DNA or blood samples, sterile examination and collection of data, after doctors may first be compelled to deliver essential patient care. The discompassionate investigative scenario is disquieting to patient whose victimized body becomes the investigation scene after the fact.

Clothing and other valuable or treasured personal possessions may be seized for evidence, while stark reality sets in when essential personnel leave. An educated understanding of the psychological conditions likely extending to the rape victim has to be taught to healthcare providers.

Rape trauma victims are survivors of terrible physical violence, and crimes like these occur across a wide spectrum of behaviour, and ages, and situations, the entire gamut of human relations intersect. People assisting on the recovery end need to be specifically trained into the psychological problems of drug induced date rapes, or other scenarios that require information for a court proceeding.

Holly said, "Because reporting is rare, the public should be informed of new investigative methods to enable higher levels of comfort while forensic activities are acted out on the body."

A core process is required to distribute widely to all trauma wards of hospitals in Canada. She also wants courts to impose tougher sentencing in Canada. "It rarely goes past 10 years for convictions on rape or sexual assault." Why is Canada safe haven for the world's criminals? "We have no death penalty. Our deportations do not take," said Holly.

Criminals once deported too often wind up back in Canada. "We don't have deportation arrangments to all countries, we have to look at the processes of deportation that rids us of criminals, to make it return them to the countries where they have charges, to face the justice. We should stop treating these criminal deportees as Canadians.

"We should stop drug cartel fugitives from coming in. Canada refuses to deport fugitives to countries that have the death penalty." The question is, why do Canadian authorities mollycoddle criminal fugitives while deporting kids. Canadian authorities refuse to accept any health burdens that would cost the system a lot of money, like HIV carriers.

On the other hand border controls are inadequate to prevent human smugglers using Canada as a favored place for business. Holly wants changes to the Canadian Privacy Act to enable the Privacy Commissioner more ability to consider victims of crime in the information stream about deportations, movements, detainments, releases.

Holly wants Canada to secure its borders, and make the border situation sensible. "Allow them in once it is proven people qualify for refugee status. Make it possible for the ones we turn away to make it into Canada," instead of the current flow of criminals from drug cartels and human traffickers.

She suggests, "Let's help police forces network together," and asks, where is the cooperation between authorities, which includes RCMP, OPP, QPP, and a myriad of large and small city police forces that need to communicate? The Amber Alert program in Canada is operating in only two provinces: this current patchwork causes kids to disappear out of those jurisdictions.

Holly Desimone is an advocate for a national hotline for reporting Sex Crimes, similar to RAINN in the USA; and a victim's protection plan that includes knowledge about which rapists when, where, and the reasons why (they) are being released (mandatory release/dayparole/other).

The era of the school massacre continues to terrify North America. Monday, Apr 16, 07, the morning, Jamal Albarghouti kept a steady hand with his cellphone camera at the Virginia Tech campus. Early in the morning, 7:15 A.M., two people were shot in a Virginia Tech student dormitory, then two hours later, horror struck in again with dramatically greater loss of life.

When Jamal was shooting his sometime shakey footage mid-morning, a report had come about a single gunman in a single classroom where nobody would leave this classroom alive. Bullets were flying out windows. Reporters asked campus authorities why the campus wasn't shut down after the first shooting?

Virginia Tech school president at the Blacksburg VA, Charles Steger, said the campus is coping with, "Horror, disbelief, and profound sorrow," and the state school is seeking assistance from agencies to deal with crisis.

Police apparently believed the shooter of the first incident departed Virginia Tech campus (and perhaps even the state). A police official at the university president's side, said, "One person deceased in Norris Hall was a shooter." Was he the only shooter, Capt. Wendell Flinchum, Virginia Tech Chief of Police, would not say.

The incident appeared as an aftermath to reputedly turgid responses to recent bomb threats against the Virginia Tech's engineering faculty building, in Roanoake, Virginia. These threats occurred before somebody unleashed fury in these two episodes of the worst campus shooting incident in U.S. history.

No mention was made of the gunman's name, but 31 students and staff were shot and killed and 24 were wounded at two sites. Blanket coverage ensued of the latest and worst incident of school killings. The first reports said it was apparently a young Asian male using two handguns who ultimately turned one on himself. He was heavily armed and wearing a vest.

He was said to be looking for his girlfriend at the 'West Ambler' dormitory, and she may have been one of the victims. "We know nothing about the gunman except that he's dead right now," ABC NEWS. It was another case of a well-prepared massacre killer stalking for targets in the middle of a school day.

The gun-crazed attacks continue to target schools and attackers rarely live to explain it, and are exclusively male. These planned massacres at schools come about, said ABC News, previously, because, "Schools and campuses are useful targets for the disaffected."

It was another, larger out-of-control massacre of 33 people, and David Gray, CBC News, interviewed a U.S. crime expert who noted these 'types' of killers have no 'type', and are "impossible to profile." One thing to watch, however, is the incidence and nature of threats.

The expert noted these occurred in previous cases, and if 'threats' are being made it is important to listen, and make serious consideration of possible personal experiences in the background of the sources of the threats. The atmosphere in schools has to enable sharing of concerns with others, about others, and arrange activities for unifying the 'community,' not dividing it.]

Late last year in Montreal the Dawson College campus exploded in shootings that killed Anastasia Desouza, 18, in what was close to a huge massacre (18 wounded). After the Dawson College explosion North America witnessed three more attacks on schools, one after the other with terrible casualties.

Loren Coleman, author of The Copycat Effect, said, "Multiple events in school shootings are a behaviour contagion." Jordan Peterson, prominient psychologist, last year, said, "The intention is to inflict unnecessary and intense suffering in the shortest period of time," and added killers are unpredictable as they are dangerous, and copy-cat elements are strong.

Some experts speculate on rising body counts per incident as obvious escalation. The U.S. and Canadian schools will be examining the need lockdown and monitor against armed outbursts. Reports last month from the Amish elementary school attacked last year said the community has made security adaptations and is recovering from the fear. Prevention measures have to be studied, media pundits say. [VT released number to call 1-800-533-1144]

She's guilty of three murders in the first degree, and she will see daylight before she's 20 years old. Counselling in prison is the schooling of crime, so, because she can never be identified, this presents a large risk to some Canadian community in the not-too-distant future. The court will deliberate on the exact sentence, but the maximum is 10 years and the likelihood is 6 years, and the sentence will be delivered before the end of summer '07. Meanwhile, her lover, the werewolf, who can be named because Jeremy Steinke is 23 years old, faces court for the three murder charges in the first degree coming in Sep '07.

Jul 07 07 - The Goth killers who murdered a somnolent family in Medicine Hat last year have both entered the deliberative phase of their alleged deeds. The court in Medicine Hat is site of the 13-year old girl's trial that is underway. Jeremy Steinke, 23, self proclaimed werewolf and self-evident narcissist is also charged and the pair face three counts each of first degree murder. The Steinke trial will proceed separately from the girl, in Sep '07, while currently in The Hat the disturbed girl is heaping all the blame on Steinke. The Goth culture of The Hat took serious public relations hit from this pair's actions. Aside from the sadly ridiculous trappings of society that drew these two together, Canadians heard of a 7 year old boy's last declaration in life, the obvious, "I am too young to die." Painfully obvious. Ridiculously obvious. The girl admits to a lot of struggling to quiet the boy while the werewolf killed her mom and dad upstairs, then she gave the boy a small stabbing watched her werewolf lover slash the kid's throat. Nobody in the house was prepared for this ravenous deed. According to most descriptions released by RCMP, neither dad nor the mom were able to mount a defence. The pair of killers must have sneaked in (using the girl's housekey) and used stealth to seize the moment, thus first degree murder charges ensued for both suspects, the planning required indicates both did the sneaking. The girl made no effort, indeed, no hint of effort to warn the dad to get up and defend his family. Trial resumes next week.

Jun 27 07 - Goth murders in Medicine Hat occurred under the influence and direction of a 12 year old girl who threatened to break it off with a werewolf unless he killed her parents. Life can present us with difficult choices. Turn left or right? Go up a tree or lie like ball on the ground? Scream for help or wait quietly until the threats go away. Then there's the terrible choice made by the werewolf dating the monstrous little girl. He decided to choose monstrous. And now she faces a jury trial in an adult court.

The Medicine Hat murder case is proceeding against the 12-year-old girl who allegedly joined 23-year-old Jeremy Steinke to murder her family (mother, father, and younger brother). This case involves a child and adult being tried separately for the same murders. A jury of five women and seven men will hear the case, in which, said the lawyer, his client, "pleaded not guilty. This has been very difficult for her."

The trial date for Jeremy Stenike trial date not set. The victims were the girl's parents who were found in a horrifying killing scene that took police aback, and quickly authorities had their suspects. It was common knowledge in the neighbourhood, and other some circles of the smallish city in southern Alberta, the disapproval felt by the girl's parents for the strange relationship being carried on publicly with the man.

And public it was, including wacky talk about werewolves and vampires and, furthermore, what the Crown read in court, from a posting off the internet, where, the girl reveals a plan to kill the 'rents. The morning after the murder, at the urging of a neighbour, police arrived and found two knives and victims in separate rooms in various states of night-dresss. The separate victims had massive numbers of stab wounds, in the father 24 wounds, in the mother were 12. and the boy was apparently strangled. The victimized family cannot be named to protect the identity of the minor.

Mar 30 07 - Paula Todd on CTV Verdict Mar 28 07 referred to the 'Werewolf Murders' in Medicine Hat, Alberta: Jeremy Steinke, 22, charged with three counts of murder, has claimed a werewolf family tree, even to being a 300 year old werewolf. An alleged accomplice in the murders was a 12 year old girl and together they murdered her parents. The preliminary hearing wrapped up swiftly in order to move the case to trial. Alain Hepner, Steinke's defense lawyer, comments on the ban on evidence from the Premilinary Hearing and balks at commenting on the 'Goth' talk. The murder in Medicine Hat is reverberating through the community. The 12 year old Young Offender has pleaded not guilty and is facing murder charges in a June 2007 trial in Medicine Hat. Todd's guests on The Verdict included observers who said maybe this is could be vampire culture at work. Professor Stephen Kent, U of A sociologist, noted the computer / internet environment has a number of sites devoted to vampire 'cult' and those places have people finding encouragement that fuels fantasies, perhaps even leading to bloody events like the alleged murder of three by Jeremy Steinke and his underage accomplice in Medicine Hat.

Global TV in Red Deer reported Monday Mar 26 07 Jeremy Steinke trial for murder of three in Medicine Hat began. Regina Leader Post reports the preliminary hearing underway. A sordid murder case that cannot be openly discussed with the complications of youth offenders and other relationships. It is safe to say that Jeremy Steinke represents a totemesque example of the problem being confronted by new federal legislation in age of consent from Hon. Rob Nicholson, minister of the justice department.

Arguments presented in Black trial: prosecution, "Thieves!" said a number of ways about more than one person (obviously alluding to Radler who somehow confessed to being one so he could become a star witness. (Hey, somebody get the damned kangaroo outta here!) Defense: "Not a thief, a victim of thieves led by Radler whose illgotten gains were stolen in the US market." U.S. Govt versus Black: Legal analyst Steve Skurka said Conrad Black benefits from facing a jury over bench proceedings (judge only) in Chicago. Maybe the complexity of the subject favours the defense confusing a few members of the jury. Observers say Black himself must testify. They say the defense depends on his own testimony, which will need to debunk Radler's testimony. They add, the defense appears to be softening the jury to Black's demeanor (he's some kind of snob.) Huh? (Oh, apparently, that is 'one' kind of snob.) Greenspan said this is an obstruction of justice charge. It is his job to defend against the video tape recording movement of boxes, forming the basis of the obstruction of justice charge (grouped in with theft etc). On the other hand, the 'boxes' are being trotted by the prosecution to lure Black into open testimony. Is there a gender imbalance on the jury? Pooshah. It is a majority women jury but so what. Neither men nor women like being ripped off. The most important factor in the jury is possibly as pointed out a day or two earlier, are they stockholders, because stockholders are purportedly the big losers in this case. In response to Barbara Amiel's comment about journalists: Vermin, is vaguely reminiscent of something written by W. Somerset Maugham, in which he described the aristocracy treating journalists like bugs and artists like butterflies, in the same room, at the same time, and explained he that he never knew where he fit in.

A lot of assets of Hollinger Inc. changed hands, Jerusalem Post, the London newspaper giving Black entre into British House of Lords, all those Canadian newspaper assets now belonging to Peladeau, Martin, and Asper; how did the exchange of these assets compare to the exchanges discussed in U.S assets, apparently so problematic.

OTTAWA - May 31 07 - Hon. Rob Nicholson, justice minister, discussed legislation passed this week to deal out a Mandatory Prison Sentence of minimum 5 years for first-time offenders using firearms in the commission of a crime, 7 years minimum for second offense. He has worked diligently in the post to bring several legislative initiatives against crime. He watched new legislation on minimum sentences receive Royal Assent and head to the senate for its approval. Nicholson noted the justice initiatives from his ministry have been watered down by a minority parliament but he will continue to work to strengthen sentencing laws and victims’ rights. For a 15 year old killed in Toronto the funeral came on the same day as legislation received royal Assent in the Canadian parliament. The minister wants the laws in place for the summer while the senate examines the legislation. The minister said, the law affects serious crimes, to inhibit those who commit serious damage or killings in society. The minister complained to Mike Duffy on CTV about committee work watering down the law quite a bit, “Liberals watered down the legislation quite a bit,” but the Conservatives intend to support it and remain satisfied with Royal Assent today. The law designates mandatory sentences in prison for gun crimes, specifically, 5 years for first offense, and 7 years inimum for the second offense. The ten year minimum for a third offense failed to escape the committee, said the minister.

Earlier in the spring the government announced victims of crime compensation from the Canadian federal government, and Hon. Stockwell Day announced a Victims of Crime Ombudsman. This was good news for crime victims in Canada, at least it was a start, said some advocates. Questions about funding may arise, said critics.

(Jan 1 07) North American police services turned attention to grievous and seemingly senseless loss to motor vehicle accidents and alcohol-fueled family violence during another protracted 'holiday' season. Before the usual 'bad Santa' interlude into the world of crime in Canada we followed a few specific stories. These stories involved special attention from police services in their respective jurisdictions across the country.

In Edmonton, for instance, anti-violence campaigning succeeded in the city's effort to stall the march to another record number of murders. Mayor Stephen Mandel, Police Chief Boyd, and a host of Edmontonians made a strong public relations effort to slow the darkness from creeping further across Edmonton's party atmosphere. Apparently when asked nicely to do so, people stop killing each other in random knife assaults that are often undertaken for no good reason in the first place except somebody has a knife.

Meanwhile in Winnipeg police officers conducted a raid one mid-Dec. 2006 night at 11 P.M. on a house in south end that produced a shotgun blast, downing three officers. Winnipeg Police Chief Jack Ewatski described the area as close to University of Manitoba, a residential area and peaceful neighbourhood. "We have gang problems in Winnipeg but not in this neighbourhood." The shotgun was allegedly wielded by one Daniel Ian Anderson, 21.

The police chief said twelve officers entered the fray and three were shot by the 21 yr old suspect living in his parents house. Anderson apparently has a history of violence with police. One officer was put into hospital in ICU and two were treated in stable condition. The Winnipeg police were treading softly about one of the injured officers having been shot by their own personnel. Suspect Anderson on the other hand was only superficially wounded and emerged from hospital after two days, to be charged with attempted murder.

An allegedly ghoulish pig farmer named Robert William 'Willy' Pickton went into a specially prepared bullet-proof glass cage, in December 2006, in New Westminster, to stare at the jury selection proceedings that got underway and went smoothly for a trial that began in January 2007. This innocent until proven guilty specimen of the human condition perhaps gone terribly awry is being perceived as culpable in the deaths of dozens, maybe more than dozens, even, hundreds, of Vancouver women. The story goes the are usually DES prostitutes, so the story goes; on trial and charged with twenty first degree murders over above the current six in trial proceedings, the first of how many more to come? This guy could be on trial for murders long after I am dead.

As the turn of the year passed the Edmonton Police Service and related task force called Project Kare took great pains to clarify that Thomas George Svekla would be charged with murder for Rachel Quinney and possibly others, however, police are engaged in searching intensely close for other murderers. Edmonton area police continue to investigate numerous missing women cases, and cases with the bodies in custody, many of those. Meanwhile alleged serial killer Svekla crafted an elaborate ruse around Rachel Quinney that included leading police to her remains three years ago. . . (by having 'discovered' them).

In Saskatchewan , Curtis Dagenais, 41, slightly less bloodthirsty, pleaded not guilty to murders of two RCMP officers, Const. Robin Cameron and Const. Marc Bourdages, of RCMP Spiritwood Detachment. Degenais hid out for two weeks in July 2006, after shooting these two officers, and finally turned himself in to the Spiritwood Detachment.

Otherwise on the prairie things are more peaceful than usual, according to Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics. They are showing reduced crime rates in Regina. The CCJS described things according to five categories, as follows: Total Crime -14.6%; Homicide -20%; Robbery -7.5%; Break and Entering -17.9%; Motor Vehicle Theft -20.5%. While Regina crime rates were the lowest in 2005 that they had been in a decade, noting a curious spike in street robbery with violence occurring under the transplanted leafy trees in the prairie city.

Police explain that robberies come in different forms, including bank robberies, home invasions, purse-snatchings, and strong-armings. "In all cases, the victim of the robbery is the person being robbed, therefore a bank robbery is actually a robbery to the bank teller and if three different bank tellers are robbed, that constitutes three different counts of Robbery."

Robbery is a matter under Sections 343 and 344 of the Criminal Code. "A Robbery occurs when a suspect steals or attempts to steal something from the victim using violence or threats of violence," explains the Vancouver Police Department website. "The violence does not need to be excessive. If a person indicates that he is armed, even if this is not true, then they are committing robbery."

Robbery is different from 'theft' or 'break and enter', the police continue, "in that in those particular crimes the victim who is being stolen from is not confronted by the suspect. If a suspect breaks into an empty house to steal items then he is committing a theft; if the suspect breaks into a house, confronts the occupants and then steals from them, then he is committing a robbery." Visit the Vancouver Police or other Canadian police service websites to learn practical ways to prevent or report robberies.

Life-long policeman who rose to the top as Commissioner of the RCMP suddenly had to resign as a casualty in the war on terror. Naturally, one of the primary sources of information that could shed light on the case is the Commissioner, and he Guiliano Zaccardelli is gone as of Dec 6 06, as a result of Justice Dennis O'Connor's Commission of Inquiry that began in June 2004 into the Maher Arar affair.

A great deal of information will be examined away from spotlights because various agencies and departments of government will continue to conduct the case so filled with contradictions. Remember the Canadian government settled an extraordinary lawsuit by Maher Arar, to the tune of several millions (done early 2007).

Still the resignation would have been a surprise, until Zaccardelli said, "I have not totally represented the facts as they were," at various occasions, including once in front of a Commons committee Dec 5 06, and when he said it, whew, even on tape it was stunning; everybody knew his goose was cooked.

Zaccardelli said he steps down with a clear conscience. "I never had any choice but to tell the truth, " about what he knew and when about Arar's deportation and subsequent torture.

It sounded like the Commissioner was working with false, misleading, or mistaken 'intelligence', from CSIS and U.S. Homeland Security. Zaccardelli knew something of the Arar case when it unfolded in 2002-03, and learned the case against Arar was based on false information. Allegedly the Commissioner allowed the mistaken action against Arar to continue unabated.

The government wants Canadians to know it was the Commissioner covering mistakes of 'his' actions, hiding them from Hon. Anne McLellan, (Deputy Prime Minister and Public Safety Minister, circa 2002) and Mr. 'Z' later misled Hon. Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety. The mess that cannot not be denied except by forgeting, is now hidden, reversed, or accepted on some level, regardless of who was in power; it appears somebody in the Canadian intelligence community acted in concert with US and others against Arar.

It appears the essential Zaccardelli was wrong on a few counts, especially trying to cover the misdeeds of subordinates, or groping in the dark hoping somebody at CSIS might spill their guts (LOL). As James Rajotte, Cons MP, said, "It's been rough for the RCMP in the past couple of years," and, Serge Menard, BQ MP, said, "The RCMP are good at crime-solving but they have problems with terrorism activities." Ruby Dhalia, Lib MP, asked "Was the Commissioner muzzled?" by the federal government. And Nathan Cullen, ND MP, said "it can hardly be laid at the feet of one man."

Hours before resignation, Public Safety Minister said Commissioner had full confidence of the government, a necessary prelude to puttin' his head on a stick. Consider the stakes: the deeds done to Maher Arar were shared by the Government of Canada, RCMP, CSIS, other police forces, and foreign governments, and their myriads of agents! Apparently promotions went to officers involved (hinting to observers it wasn't 'bad' intelligence after all).

Spies would say no such thing exists as bad intelligence, IT's ALL GOOD. It depends on what you skewer with it, and in this case a Canadian was locked in a Syrian jail and apparently tortured for a year,because that's what Syrians do in the Estraordinary Renditions ops. Are Canadians left with a baffled national police force being hobbled and hamstrung by an intelligence community that has its own agenda in operation with the world intelligence operations? Duh?

Canadians watched Zaccardelli take the fall for the Public Safety Committee in the Commons, Dec 6, 06, "I might not have got the facts all straight the first time."

Gordon Brown, Cons MP, said, "There is no rush to judgement here, although I would agree the public has lost confidence in the commissioner." Mark Holland, Lib MP, asked, "How do you unknow something?" basically asking when the perjury began with the commissioner's testimony. "The man's (Zaccardelli's) testimony is shakey. Hasn't the government lost the confidence of Commissioner Zaccardelli?"

Joe Crowmartin, ND MP, said, "It is with some sadness due to his strong connection to RCMP and long public service to Canadians but he set the Public Safety Committee off in wrong direction last September and doesn't appreciate the problems he has created."

Pundits noted commissioners always come from within, "but there has never been a resignation before." The RCMP started in the 1800s with a force of 275. Today it is a police service of nearly 24,000 members. Another pundit called them a "Tough paramilitary organization," that won't take lightly to the need for close examination, and certainly won't abide well to overt political interference in the appointment of a new boss.

Anybody exposed to a strangely written comedy called See Spot Run has seen the awesome impact of Conducted Energy Devices, one version of which is known as the TASER. The name TASER is a trademark owned by a company with a patent that provides monopoly to TASER International. They make the world's only hand-held Conducted Energy Devices called TASERs, one form of CED.

Other CEDs are like the dog collar worn by David Arquette in the movie when they accidently locked it on his neck. The collar belonged to a specially trained FBI dog, and the star wore the special collar with charming and delightful results: the 'special' collar for the handsome FBI dog paralyzed pug-ugly David Arquette and threw him for several hilarious loops.

Who knew that versions of this device are commonly deployed in U.S. prisons as waist belts? Prisoners have grown to fear these Conducted Energy Devices during transfers and other engagements like court appearances. When renting another movie a couple of months ago I watched an actor pretend to get the 'TASER' during some more flat-screened monkey business and it was funny, of course, as it was meant to be. It was another incongruous moment that would never occur in real life, you know, TASER in a diner kitchen, ha ha ha. Where do they get these crazy ideas?

What? TASERs are street legal in the USA: 26 watts for $1000, 18 watts for $650. "TASER energy devices are classified as 'Non-Lethal Weapons' by the U.S. Department of Defense," says the TI website, "NLWs are defined as 'weapons that are explicitly designed and primarily employed so as to incapacitate personnel or material, while minimizing fatalities, permanent injury to personnel, and undesired damage to property and the environment."

Police departments in California collaborated on the early development of CEDs and Los Angeles Police Department was the first to introduce them in 1974 (after LAPD did most of the initial research into the device). The development of a more powerful 'TASER' took place in the early 1990s after it became apparent that earlier models failed to knock down users of phenylcyclohexyl pipridine (PCP), a powerful hallucinogenic street drug of the 1980s.

TASER International of Arizona monopolizes manufacture of hand-held CEDs. The name stands for Thomas A. Swift Electric Rifle from the 'futuristic' tales of Tom Swift. Two models are popular with police forces, the M26 Advanced Taser, and a newer, purportedly safer, X26; both operate on 26 watts of electrical output (compared to 5-7 watts of earlier, under-powered models). "These devices discharge pulsed energy to deliver a five-second 50,000 volt shock designed to override the subject's central nervous system."

Models are equipped to fire a two dart assembly as far as 6.5 metres, or be used without the air cartridge instead as 'touch' stun guns. The TASER International M26 and X26 have been 'fully deployed' in over 200 police departments and are available in thousands of other police stations and in security localities around the U.S.. Equally high-powered versions are available for the public to purchase off the shelf in some states, off the website, and have less watts.

TASER International has enjoyed a monopoly while maintaining patent protection through various challenges, while competitors are emerging to challenge the monopoly. One company is marketing a hand-held CED that advertises a 9.45 m range and a four dart system rather than the two probes fired by air cylinder with the TI equipment. Newer systems are being deployed with audio and visual recording capacity and reports are that the price will be dropping to considerably less than a TASER.

This is not the case in Canada. TASERs are not allowed for commercial sale; they are classified harsher than Non-Lethal. Half-a-dozen Canadian fatalities have been added to U.S. numbers of dead after TASER shots. TASERs are deployed by four Canadian police departments including the RCMP, but their use is supposedly rare, like bean bags and rubber bullet projectiles, and TASERs are classified Less Lethal weapons rather than Non-Lethal weapons.

The Canadian Police Research Centre conducted extensive review of scientific research into TASERs in police work in Canada and around the world. CPRC is a collaborative effort of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, RCMP, and the National Research Council. CPRC reported a consultation with the Edmonton Police Service, which showed TASER training was less perilous than earlier perceptions indicated. Police officers who were TASERed "have experienced three hamstring injuries as a result of TASER applications during training." Muscle cramps and so forth. "The Victoria Police Department reported no significant injuries from TASER training."

According to Amnesty International TASERs are used around the world in countries like Australia, France, Germany, and Israel, and many others. Issues include continuing controversy about Excited Delirium, a condition that overcomes some people in restraint and in rare instances leads to death. Do TASER shots on a person in restraint lead to Excited Delirium? AI states that certain weapon developments have not been studied closely enough. Others suggest that Excited Delirium is not new.

When self-serve gasoline sales began in the 1970s people became accustomed to driving up to the pump and serving themselves. Everybody knows it comes time to pay immediately after pumping, but, sadly, for a few, the time to pay doesn’t seem to come. They will drive away from the bill and in the gasoline sales industry are known as ‘driveaways’. Changes in the industry are making it harder for driveaways to ‘get away’ with stealing gas.

As technology spreads to satisfy consumer demand for convenience and safety it will be ending many of the opportunities for theft. Systems of pre-authorized payment do exist, for example several years ago Shell Canada introduced EasyPay, a ‘key ring’ that works with a credit card. EasyPay permits one-touch purchase at the till (or sometimes at the pump). It is a convenient and safe transaction that the majors have put in place.

Of course, no technology is required for any station to establish a "pre-pay" system, simply by having customers come to the kiosk and pay before they pump. This is the simplest form of pre-pay which does not involve too much technology. Renovations are done to offer new services that add convenience and security to the station. Gas stations shut down for a month to install new pumps and the latest in computers, cameras, and other surveillance systems. Details on who covers or shares costs of any such modifications are based on contractual relationships between gas station owners and petroleum companies.

Ted Stoner, Vice President of the Canadian Petroleum Products Institute, Western Region, with offices in Calgary, Alberta, said members of the CPPI, like Shell Canada, are at the centre of an almost endless variety of ownership models that market gasoline. At present various contractors are doing installations of new technology almost everywhere in the country. The owners of the equipment are making renovations for a combination of reasons including system upgrades that offer the customer security upgrades which are amalgamated into the design.

Simone Marler, Shell Canada’s media relation department, said, "The driveaway issue is very unfortunate and an on-going issue for our business, as theft is in any retail sector, and it has been for a long time." She said Shell Canada has installed the EasyPay pump system across Canada and now have 600 outlets, "and customers are beginning to use it. It is convenient and safe." EasyPay information at the www.shell.ca motorists site is useful to learn about secure purchasing of gasoline. She said the company has a continuing goal to produce a safe environment to conduct business.

In one jurisdiction the sale of gasoline has become controversial. In B.C. the controversy stems from "Grant’s Law," a proposed law to remember Grant Depatie who died in a driveaway gasoline theft, dragged for seven kms from an Esso station where he worked in Maple Ridge, B.C. His parents are lobbying for a law that would require pre-paid gasoline purchases between the hours 11 P.M. and 7 A.M.

Driveaways are robberies, but the robbers are usually sneaky, more like shoplifters (with a 4000 lb steel shopping cart). The theft is immediately apparent to everybody because a pump requires ‘clearing’ for the next customer. Actual numbers for driveaways are not discussed. Police never hear the half of it because robbers slip through at busy moments when employees are caught unawares. Companies require reports from employees delivered to a toll-free number and companies liase with local police to add security details. It is not a happy story.

No amount of training can prepare employees for the experience of driveaway theft of gasoline. No doubt Grant Lapatie died out of sheer frustration, chasing the one he thought he could catch. The CPPI provides employees with the basic instructions about safety first. The large companies are very diligent to advise employees about safety in dealing with theft. The same instructions go out from the 60 percent of retail outlets owned by independent businesses

It is the independent business owners who abide by safety standards, regulations, and concerns in the communities where they own businesses and their duty to employ safety regulations, CPPI members or not.) In fact, for the big brand players that are also CPPI members, including the Shells, Huskys, Imperials, and the rest, control over the management of gas stations is less than 40% in Canada.

The large companies have ownership of stations that have high throughputs. They often receive newer technology driven by customer demand for speed and convenience and hence the location can be a large determinant in station modifications. Stoner said, "I think the business of providing secure transactions is happening fast enough." . As for the overall methods to providing security and surveillence, "There is always stuff behind the scenes that folks aren’t aware of, which is the only way to make protection practices effective. Members of the CPPI have stations that are basically involved in ‘best management practices’."

Stoner added, "What we have said is that a lot of thought has gone into stores for the safety of employees and the public. Will prepay stem the tide of driveaway thefts?" It remains an open question, as are the suggestions of making changes in regulatory environment. "The key point is that the CPPI membership is not for or against regulatory changes, as long as they are applied consistently across the board" said Stoner. "Some have asked if further violence inside the store would be the outcome."

CPPI members give clear safety instruction to gasoline station employees, "Do not stand in harms way," said Stoner, "Safety of the public, consumers and site employees is paramount." Stoner said recent news about a gas station employee chasing people with golf clubs is out of question. CPPI members provide basic safety instructions, care for customers, work in safe conditions, and all employees kept out of harms way. www.cppi.ca

Canada's federal justice Hon. Rob Nicholson is working on legislation that sets five year minimum sentences for crimes committed with firearms, which sentencing minimums, the minister said to Mike Duffy CTV, "were gutted by opposition parties" in committee. He is also working to pass age of consent legislation to raise the age from 14 to 16, "Hoping" it will pass, because it is unacceptable to allow 40 yr olds preying on 14 yr olds. He said there are political arguments raging in the oppostion about stopping the legislation, but also suggested, " the NDP supports us," and Nicholson added, the Attorney General in Ontario called the federal Liberal Party approach to crime 'the summer of love.' Is crime an issue to put to Canadians in an election? Juctice minister Nicholson said he wants cooperation "to get these things through. Canadians want poiliticians to do it, and get rough on crime." Leader of the Opposition Liberal Dion said Tories are coming with unacceptable crime legislation and believes this legislation is more of the Tories positioning the House for an election. Furthermore, today, Dion took umbrage with Prime Minister Harper putting him in the same camp as the Talibhan. And who could blame him? That is some kind of inflammatory parliamentary dialogue, indeed, those are fighting words. Joe Cromartin told Mike Duffy, "Mandatory minimums on firearm-related crimes will be supported by NDP. He did question the constitutionality of 'age of consent' legislation.

Nov 15 06 - Dangerous offender legislation introduces reverse onus to criminal proceedings: Prime Minister Harper introduced dangerous offender legislation called Bill C-27 late 2006 and said the bill puts the onus on a person found guilty of a third violent crime to convince a judge not to designate them a dangerous offender. Presently the Crown must take measures to prove a person is a dangerous offender, whereas under the proposed law a convict would be considered a dangerous offender after the third offense (putting the onus on criminals to prove why they aren't dangerous offenders).

The Prime Minister said "if the person fails to prove they are not a dangerous offender, he or she will be put in prison for an indeterminate period of time and won't be eligible for parole for seven years." He said the proposed law respected the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and strikes a balance between protecting individual rights and protecting society. Bill C-27 immediately fell under vigorous debate in the House of Commons during the week of Nov. 6 06. The approach of the law deals with dangerous offenders who are violent and sexual offenders only, unlike American states, some of which apply three-strikes-and-your-out laws to felony convicts of all types, sometimes in an alarmingly cavalier manner. Paul Szabo, Lib. MP, said during Commons debate that he seriously doubts constitutionality of the law. Challenge in court could take years especially under the charter. He suggested it won't be operable until court challenges are complete, to which Rick Dykstra, Cons MP replied, "A challenge may occur about the reverse onus clause but I see little else for the court to rule against." Marc Lemay, BQ MP said, "After 20 year practice of criminal law in Quebec I know we have judges who decide every day what sentences should occur This bill is aimed at penalizing the crime not the person. . . The sentence must be individualized in keeping with the individual. As a judge I must deal with the person before me and apply sentencing principles. This bill goes against those principles.

"Each sentence is unique and must be tailored to the individual. The reverse onus principle goes against the basis of our criminal justice system in Canada and abroad in Britain. The purpose of this legislation is to reverse existing principles," and essentially infringe on the power of judges to sentence. Lemay said, "I feel the Supreme Court would not accept this legislation under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms This Bill fails that test even while the Prime Minister says he respects the Charter." The BQ member said, "Government wants to punish the crime and not the criminal. BQ is opposed to the Bill. It is damaging and ineffective legislation that will not improve peoples safety and a law that makes sentences automatic, a reverse onus law, is not justified." Lemay said violent offenders can already be purged from society, even after a first offense, so why proceed with this legislation? He included an additional argument that the new law beckons dangerous offenders to offend twice more before being confronted with permanent incarceration. Lemay predicts this legislation if passed will jam up the justice system from coast to coast, and called it an extremely right wing approach. Geoff Regan Lib MP, said, "Dangerous offender legislation that exists in Canada is the strongest in the world and with this legislation the Charter of Rights and Freedoms is under assault This legislation will be rejected by courts Changing law that will be completely rejected by courts is wasteful to say the least." David Tilson Con MP replied that the law is based on conviction of three horrible crimes. "The opposition talks about rights of the criminal. Do the BQ not care about the victim?" And the opposition replied, "This is going at the American Model which has a prison system with three times as many prisoners. The BQ believes the issues are that poverty leads to crime but too much incarceration leads to development of crime schools in prisons." Like so much of the Conservative minority government legislative agenda, even if it is a good thing, who knows if it will pass?