Bill Tieleman’s 24 Hours Column
Tuesday May 13, 2008
Wrong people being muzzled
By BILL TIELEMAN
Wrong people being muzzled
By BILL TIELEMAN
To govern is to choose.
- Duc de Levis, 1812
What the hell is wrong with British Columbia?
Attorney-General Wally Oppal actually supports Crown prosecutors refusing to testify at a coroner's inquest into the horrific deaths of a Victoria women and her family at the hands of her husband, who was on bail and had a restraining order against him after previous violence.
He stabbed Sunny Park 49 times, killed both her parents and his own six-year-old son before taking his own life.
But Oppal says prosecutors should not have to explain why they allowed Peter Lee out on bail.
"On principle, it's the right thing to do," Oppal said. What rubbish! Prosecutors testifying might prevent a future tragedy.
Meanwhile, gang-related thugs shoot up Vancouver again - starting right inside the Cecil Hotel strip club last week - leaving one man dead and another wounded.
But the B.C. Liberal government still dithers about whether a regional co-ordinated police force is a good idea.
With more than 50 unsolved murders - like last year's Surrey mass murder of six men, including two uninvolved bystanders - the government should start putting serious money into a real crackdown on these killers. Provincial gambling profits are over $1 billion a year - let's use some of it to stop the violence, now.
Then a young boy is viciously mauled by a pair of out of control pit bulls in a playground, suffering more than 100 stitches. The only thing that saved his life is when a nearby adult took a couple of home run swings with a baseball bat to the pit bull's head to get it off the 11-year-old.
And yet the province once again does nothing to prevent future attacks.
It's obviously time to force pit bull owners to obtain a special restrictive licence if they want to own these deadly weapons unless we want more kids scarred for life or worse. If that doesn't work, ban them.
Four years after police raided the B.C. Legislature, charging two ministerial aides with corruption, the trial of David Basi and Bob Virk has yet to start.
And while the premier's office was directly involved in screening the release of evidence, Gordon Campbell previously said the opposite and now won't answer questions about it.
But that same do-nothing B.C. Liberal government plans to immediately ban third-party advertising for five months before an election to gag groups who disagree with their wrong-headed policies.
Not only is this a complete contradiction of their strong position against such a ban when in opposition, it is a flagrant violation of free speech.
Muzzle pit bulls or gang members? Not a chance.
Muzzle political opponents? Muzzle crown prosecutors? You bet!
And that's what's wrong with B.C.
27 comments:
Bill, I appreciate you calling it the way, you know it! I don't get it, but I'll die fighting to survive it! "What the hell is wrong with BC'? Any answers? 'They' ignore victims too!
Everyone needs to read macleans.ca cover story on BC as a Crime Super Power. (current edition) Looks as if the criminals are in charge here.
Then refer to Kim Bolan's book, Loss of Faith: How the Air India Bombers Got Away with Murder. She mentions how some politicans receive cash in envelopes when they attend events. Got it?
bill you got it all wrong! The bc liberals have cracked down on those ruthless,vicious fare evaders on skytrain.
Those are the real baddies(3 dollar theft) that warrants a taser in the back!
The part about freedom of speech your way off on that one as well mr. tielman, I would discuss it further with you but since it is before the courts I can`t comment on it!
.
Extra-good column, Bill.
Looks as if the answer to "What is wrong with BC?" is right before our eyes.
We just can't believe it yet.
But yeah, others are starting to catch on ... and that Maclean's article about B.C. being an Organized Crime super-power is helpful reading. Can't fix a problem if we don't know what it is.
Remember how the RCMP Sgt., on 29 Dec. 2003, tried to tell us that Organized Crime had entered every level of B.C. life? Pundits had a field day pooh-poohing that idea. Yeah, right.
Vaughn Palmer was kinda interesting today as he projected an NDP government after the 2009 election, and explained why.
.
Palmer did suggest that "possibly" the NDP could win and it would be a good change from Gordo who should be called Terminator 2. But the NDP Leader best quit waffling on so many things. No pay raise. Second time,Oh maybe we should. Everyone deserves a pension and she likes hers just fine . Lots of folks don't have pensions but lets not worry about them. Throw away a very long time party policy because it will benefit the coal port parking lot and to hell with ALR land, but gosh Gordo don't do it again. Sure Carole , hey want a park for the Musquim, of course. James seems pretty satisfied with that deal as well. She speaks with forked tonge. I spent ten years tracking treaties for non Indian Tenants in BC and policies were swept aside and to hell with you guys who don't agree. Including a few of her own MLA's. The tenants got the shaft. so much for the supporters of the little guy. But we need money so give us some. Not Likely Ms. James. I believe in the tooth fairy more than I could stretch so far as to see the present NDP leader taking power. Gordo keeps chucking around money and folks simple love it. The poor, out of work,sick or people losing their life long job's Oops folks. No time to be a leftie supporter. Gordo's inside guy Dobell breaks the rules, but we really shouldn't complain. The mind boggles. Question period is always good but the government side can read the polls and when all else fails talks about the mid 90's. TO think that characters like Stan hagen actually gets paid for his performance is really upsetting
That's some heavy sh-- Bill but it sure needed to be said and repeated.(but don't forget about the wards of the Province).
Campbell can't run on his record so has to stop freedom of speach with this Bill.
What a mockery we should all be totally embarassed to be governed by these clowns.
Hopefully an injunction can be sought by election officals immediately after it comes in to effect?
The NDP although trailing in the polls could make humungus gains with a savvy media campaign. This law will keep them in the cheap seats for a while longer.
It will be interesting to see if anyone decides to run the ads and let the courts decide...
campbell is stifling free speech because the polls are cooked--campbells running scared!
go around the province talk to people gordo is done-
sorry di--campbell is a promise breaker and you can`t tell a poor person he`s really rich!
you can get away with being bad managers but arrogant corruption no way,keep the phoney ipsos reid polls coming!
revenge is a dish best served cold
Hi Bill
What the hell is wrong with B.C?
It was reported last year that Glen Hehn’s, a full patch member of the elite Nomads of the Hells Angels in B.C., had been charged with trafficking wherein one-kilo cocaine bricks worth a total of $1.5 million were seized from his vehicle and his storage locker.
The case went before Justice Peter Leask, a former criminal lawyer and former special prosecutor for the A-G.
It became evident to any reasonable person that last year Justice Leask was an advocate for Mr. Hehn on the bench when he engaged in impermissible conjecture and speculation during cross-examination of the Crown’s expert witness and again during submissions. Mr. Hehn was naturally acquitted by Justice Leask and the Crown appealed his decision.
On April 28, 2008, the B.C. Court of Appeal, the old stumping grounds of Wally Oppal, the panel, which consisted of, The Honourable Madam Justice Huddart, The Honourable Mr. Justice Mackenzie, The Honourable Madam Justice Kirkpatrick, unanimously upheld the decision of Justice Peter Leask. The Crown claimed in its submissions that there were no error revealed in the trial judge’s reasons for judgment and naturally the Appeal Court of B.C. agreed with the Crown and dismissed its appeal. – It is not unreasonable to conclude that the Crown deliberately made the case against itself in order to upheld the decision of Justice Leask who failed to show absolute neutrality with respect to Mr. Glen Hehn and therefore he no longer was impartial but rather became an advocate behind the bench for Mr. Hehn.
Subsequently, we have a serious problem with organized crime in this province coming from within.
It is reported that British Columbia has the most criminal organization per capita in the world due to its narcotic trade, mostly in BC Buds, and apparently law enforcement in B.C. cannot do anything about it. I would suspect that Wally Oppal is not enforcing its laws regarding criminal organization and marijuana grow operations because he has a serious conflict of interest, as evident with his brother Harry who was under investigation for what is considered in the USA to be a serious problem coming from this side of the border.
Until Wally Oppal is the A-G of this province, I believe and verily believe there won’t be any convictions regarding members of organized crime and those assisting them.
Consider that Stephen Easton, an economics professor at SFU was quoted to say in the recent Macleans magazine that, ""There's been no indication Canadian police have been compromised or that politicians or judges have been bought, but it's hard to imagine these kinds of flows of money without that happening".
I come from the place that organized crime is cemented within and if we continue to turn a blind eye to it, we will suffer serious consequences as citizens.
We must ask our present A-G to resign and then demand transparency from our present government.
We are in very serious crises with organized crime and if we don't do anything about it, we will be worst off than Columbia and worst of than Naples Italy.
Muzzling Crown prosecutor says that the Hon. Wally Oppal is not administering justice but rather doing the opposite.
Tina Z
THIS CORROSION OF COMMUNITY ,AMIST THIS CULTURE OF COMPLACANCY/ACOOUNTABILITY ,IS A CANCER ON OUR CITY/PROVINCE/COUNTY.
My aunt had a pit bull, and he was actually a very nice dog.
Crown prosecutors once testified for the Defence, in order to save a case from dismissal. Yet Oppal wants them protected from disclosure of errors, like the indulgence of the cops who caused Frank Paul's death.
http://www.canlii.org/en/bc/bcsc/
doc/1996/1996canlii1712/1996canlii1712.html
http://www.canlii.org/en/bc/bcca/
doc/1998/1998canlii12468/1998canlii12468.html
People need to end denial of the state of justice in BC: the conduct of court and justice administrators is characterizable as an insurrection as yet unapprehended. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms is only applied in 1 of 20 cases; brazen cop Perjury is accepted as fact; innocent persons under false charges, fight defence attornies to plead guilty, rather than put up with cop retaliation; harsh investigative detentions - executed without cause - are routinely unreported by cops; in Estate law, executor embezzlement proceeds in face of judicial indulgence on concealment; CJ Brenner (Supreme Court) handles initial Motions in all major cases (native removals; Queen of the North class action, etc), effectively controlling the outcome; 100% of suits against government are either lost by private plaintiffs, or redress is meaningless; public input is excluded from the BC Justice Review process (the new court rules confer Section 96 - Canada Act - powers onto provincial court Masters).
When at long last will Wally Oppal, Donald Brenner, Alan Seckel, Michael Hicks, and the rest of the elite, be subject to scrutiny? When will the media cease to deny that justice is in chains in BC?
This bit of "Muzzle Madness" combined with the systemic corruption of government in BC with the likes of Basigate illustrates again my position that . . . GOVERNMENT IS THE ENEMY !
The Great Satan
There seems to be a lot of naive public out there that don't think that corruption at this level is possible within government. It only happens in Columbia or Khandahar or some other third world country.
Apparently because we have an election every so often, we have a democratic system. It is time to normalize the idea of corruption by the predatory ruling classes, and take back our ability to govern for the people of this province.
Politicans lie, and our leadership is corrupt. The Liberal motto 'Take all you can get, and give nothing back'
Americian authorities were recently in the news stating that, Canadian authoroities ARE NOT informing Canadians that they have been victims of identity thieft!? Falsifing records and selling innocent people, seems to be big (criminal) business. CSIS was asked about the fraudulant use of Quebec birth certificates,(probably the ones from the church). Could fraud be in marriage to bring questionable people into Canada? When former officers like Robert Reed, Perry Dunlop and others I'm sure, report crime to their bosses and cases get closed, whats a fully developed country like Canada to do?
In reference to: "Politicans lie, and our leadership is corrupt. The Liberal motto 'Take all you can get, and give nothing back'"
Make no mistake that only the name of the party changes from Liberal, to NDP, to Conservative, or others, but in truth, once any party gets elected,it never gets better, it has instead gotten worst throughout the years. We just got to look at the Conservatives in Ottawa in bed with the Hells Angels. I am referring to Maxime Bernier, who was recently appointed by Stephen Harper as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The public is supposed to believe that our politicians do not frequent members of organized crime or are themselves members.
Tina Z
I was going to add a comment but I understand I have to SHUT UP.
The slick multi million dollar propaganda campaign unveiled by Bill's friends, regarding third party advertising, shows why there should be limits on third party advertising if your going to limit direct donations.
Either you let unions and business donate and spend freely or you restrict them across the board. You don't cherry pick the electoral financing method that best fits your ideological preference.
No issue exposes hypocrisy better than electoral financing.
first poster: They do, do something for victims... They manufacture victims, into consolation prizes...
That’s really the difference between the left and the right in BC. Those of us right wingers; we love this Province and think we are pretty lucky to live in such a beautiful place.
For the NDP lefties ; it’s almost like they hate the Province. Always bitching and complaining about something. Even when the NDP is in power the left is still always unhappy and bitchy and even turn on themselves and vote the NDP out of power only to bitch and whine again.
The problem with you NDP’ers is that you are always negative about everything and people get tired of it and tune it out. Carole James is so all over the map on every topic it’s embarrassing and they have done absolutely nothing to convince anyone that they learned anything from their dismal decade in the 90’s.
The NDP is losing traction not just in BC but across Canada. Why? Because people are tired of the same ol’ tune that never seems to change. The NDP needs to re-invent itself and needs to find some positive energy in the process; the Negative Destructive Pessimistic attitude is long overdue for an adjustment.
On Friday, parties to the Lee and Frank Paul inquiries appeared in Courtroom 54-Vanc, on a motion to consolidate both matters, viz prosecutorial immunity from being called to testify. Associate Justice Patrick Dohm granted the motion - on consent of all parties (including a Crown Barrister, R Wright). Pleadings will be held on May 21; Dohm assigned another judge to hear the case. Len Daoust made the sole submission; the attorney for Commissioner Davies deferred to him. Briefing files have to be served on Monday; not much time.
Wally Oppal signed broad based powers in order to allow fact finding that could effect public policy on in-custody deaths (Rich Coleman/Don Morrison claimed placing a urine soaked, intoxicated man in an alley, put him out of custody). At the Paul inquiry, police testified that they are prohibited from producing charge recommendations on police related deaths, even though they send these to Crown Counsel. In the Reid inquiry on prosecutorial discretion, Crowns admitted that 30% of all cases with charge recommendations are returned to police for "more information." Former prosecutor - and counsel to the Police Commission - Dana Urban testified that prosecutors should have applied the same criteria as did Saskatchewan prosecutors in the Darrel Night case, which was similar except that Night survived.
http://www.canlii.org/en/sk/skca/doc/2003/2003skca28/2003skca28.html
Clearly, prosecutorial conduct is at issue. Could it be that Oppal shields prosecutors because he would have to shield his fellow judicial officers who condoned fatal jeopardization by cops in this case:
http://www.canlii.org/en/bc/bcca/doc/2005/2005bcca88/2005bcca88.html
Re the "Roy" case: alone among Oppal's work - here in sole dissent - does he question police conduct. And that is of question because he had already been promised the AG job, should he be elected in the 2005 election. Frankly, Oppal is too closely tied to whatever elitist attitudes possessed his colleagues in the "Roy" atrocity.
No reporters attended the consolidation Motion.
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=1234d227-1806-4ebd-b95e-78804ef609b3
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/05/19/casino-launder.html
http://www.cknw.com/Blogs/RealityCheck/Entry.aspx?BlogEntryID=3416
The whole system in BC is a joke.
The elected Government has no control in any manner over how the RCMP police, their corruption, ineptitude,
its leadership. The RCMP do not even have to follow the BC Police Act. Their complaint system is a farce.
They are in no way equipped to deal with the gang murders, drugs etc and should not be policing Surry or Pouce Coupe.
Similarly, the Province washes its hands of the Municipal Police. The
Province has cut back on training,
regulation, standarization, inspection, auditing, of all Municipal Poice. They do not even do it.
The so called Criminal Justice System is a joke. Lots of criminals and no justice.
Why does this government ignore these issues?
How about an article on the owners of Tbars in Surrey and those profiting from the sale of crack at Surrey Central? www.gangstersout.com
http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=9c009116-1330-49f8-ab26-d5cc911236ca
THIS IS RIDICULOUS.. I AGREE WITH A VASTE MAJORITY OF WHAT YOU ARE SAYING, BUT THE PITBULL COMMENT IS RIDICULOUS. I OWN 2 PITBULLS AND THEY ARE THE MOST GENTLE, LOVING CREATURES I HAVE EVER HAD THE PRIVILEDGE OF BEING WITH. MY ELDEST PITTY SAVED MY 8 YEAR OLD SON FROM DROWNING 2 YEARS AGO, AND TO HIM I OWE MY LIFE. YOU MAKING THIS DRASTIC "SUGGESTION" AND ACCUSATION SHOWS MUCH ABOUT YOU. A WEAPON IS DEEMED A WEAPON BY THE WAY IT WAS USED. ARE YOU PLANNING ON DOING A BC WIDE SURVEY TO FIND OUT HOW MANY PITBULLS ARE REALLY USED AS WEAPONS AND HOW MANY ARE VALUED FAMILY MEMBERS AND PROTECTORS? I AGREE THAT CRACKING DOWN ON LAW, AND MURDERS ETC WOULD MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY PITTYS ARE USED, BUT ONLY BECUASE THAT WOULD BE CRACKING DOWN ON THE PEOPLE THAT USE THEIR DOGS IN THIS FASHION. IT WOULD BE EDUCATING FOR YOU TO RESEARCH PITBULLS; YOU WILL BE SURPRISED.
FURTHER TO THAT, ARE YOU INTENDING ON TRYING TO GET OTHER BREEDS CRACKED DOWN ON TOO? YORKIES AND SPANIELS ARE THE TOP 2 DOGS FOR BITES AND ATTACKS IN MY CITY, YET NOTHING HAPPENS TO THEM.. WHY? BECUASE THEY HAVE NO STEREOTYPE. IT SEEMS MORE THAN THE GOVERNMENT NEED TO OPEN THEIR MINDS. MANY PEOPLE THAT BELIEVE THEY KNOW WHATS BEST FOR BC ARE JUST AS IGNORANT.. GOOD LUCK
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