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<font size="+2"><small>Feel free to join us for a 20 minute action
in Guelph tomorrow to oppose the Omnibus Crime Bill. That money
should be spent on carbon reduction ! <br>
Norah . 519-823-9601 for any questions. Please pass on... <br>
</small><br>
</font><font size="+2"><u><small><br>
Nov 24th.. oppose Bill C-10 !</small></u><small><br>
</small> <br>
<small>Guelph joins 140 other communities across the country in
opposing the Omnibus Crime Bill. <br>
Tomorrow, </small></font><font size="+2"><small> meeting at 40
Cork St East in front of M.P. Frank Valeriote's office at 1pm to
show support for opposing Bill C-10 <br>
Wear a cowboy hat or gear..to show that the Texas model of
prison build-up that has been a disaster for them, is not wanted
in Canada.<br>
You will have a chance to sign a petition to oppose this as
well.</small><br>
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<br>
<big><u><b><font size="2"><big><font size="4"><big><big>10 reasons
to oppose Bill C-10</big></big></font></big></font></b></u></big>
<div><span>Published On Mon Nov 14 2011</span> Toronto Star</div>
<div> <span>Trinda L. Ernst</span> </div>
<div><i><b>Trinda L. Ernst</b> is president of the Canadian Bar
Association.</i><br>
</div>
<br>
Bill C-10 is titled The Safe Streets and Communities Act an ironic
name, considering that Canada already has some of the safest streets
and communities in the world and a declining crime rate. This bill
will do nothing to improve that state of affairs but, through its
overreach and overreaction to imaginary problems, Bill C-10 could
easily make it worse. It could eventually create the very problems
its supposed to solve.<br>
Bill C-10 will require new prisons; mandate incarceration for minor,
non-violent offences; justify poor treatment of inmates and make
their reintegration into society more difficult. Texas and
California, among other jurisdictions, have already started down
this road before changing course, realizing it cost too much and
made their justice system worse. Canada is poised to repeat their
mistake.<br>
The Canadian Bar Association, representing over 37,000 lawyers
across the country, has identified 10 reasons why the passage of
Bill C-10 will be a mistake and a setback for Canada:<br>
<br>
1. Ignoring reality. Decades of research and experience have shown
what actually reduces crime: (a) addressing child poverty, (b)
providing services for the mentally ill and those afflicted with
fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, (c) diverting young offenders from
the adult justice system, and (d) rehabilitating prisoners, and
helping them to reintegrate into society. Bill C-10 ignores these
proven facts.<br>
<br>
2. Rush job. Instead of receiving a thorough review, Bill C-10 is
being rushed through Parliament purely to meet the100-day passage
promise from the last election. Expert witnesses attempting to
comment on more than 150 pages of legislation in committee hearings
are cut off mid-sentence after just five minutes.<br>
<br>
3. Spin triumphs over substance. The federal government has chosen
to take a marketing approach to Bill C-10, rather than explaining
the facts to Canadians. This campaign misrepresents the bills actual
content and ensures that its public support is based heavily on
inaccuracies.<br>
<br>
4. No proper inspection. Contrary to government claims, some parts
of Bill C-10 have received no previous study by parliamentary
committee. Other sections have been studied before and were changed
but, in Bill C-10, theyre back in their original form.<br>
<br>
5. Wasted youth. More young Canadians will spend months in custodial
centres before trial, thanks to Bill C-10. Experience has shown that
at-risk youth learn or reinforce criminal behaviour in custodial
centres; only when diverted to community options are they more
likely to be reformed.<br>
<br>
6. Punishments eclipse the crime. The slogan for one proposal was
Ending House Arrest for Serious and Violent Criminals Act, but Bill
C-10 will actually also eliminate conditional sentences for minor
and property offenders and instead send those people to jail. Is
roughly $100,000 per year to incarcerate someone unnecessarily a
good use of taxpayers money? <br>
<br>
7. Training predators. Bill C-10 would force judges to incarcerate
people whose offences and circumstances clearly do not warrant time
in custody. Prison officials will have more latitude to disregard
prisoners human rights, bypassing the least restrictive means to
discipline and control inmates. Almost every inmate will re-enter
society someday. Do we want them to come out as neighbours, or as
predators hardened by their prison experience?<br>
<br>
8. Justice system overload. Longer and harsher sentences will
increase the strains on a justice system already at the breaking
point. Courts and Crown prosecutorsÂ’ offices are overwhelmed as is,
legal aid plans are at the breaking point, and police forces donÂ’t
have the resources to do their jobs properly. Bill C-10 addresses
none of these problems and will make them much worse.<br>
<br>
9. Victimizing the most vulnerable. With mandatory minimums
replacing conditional sentences, people in remote, rural and
northern communities will be shipped far from their families to
serve time. Canadas aboriginal people already represent up to 80 per
cent of inmates in institutions in the Prairies, a national
embarrassment that Bill C-10 will make worse.<br>
<br>
10. How much money? With no reliable price tag for its
recommendations, there is no way to responsibly decide the bills
financial implications. What will Canadians sacrifice to pay for
these initiatives? Will they be worth the cost?<br>
Canadians deserve accurate information about Bill C-10, its costs
and its effects. This bill will change our countrys entire approach
to crime at every stage of the justice system. It represents a huge
step backwards; rather than prioritizing public safety, it
emphasizes retribution above all else. Its an approach that will
make us less safe, less secure, and ultimately, less Canadian.<br>
<i><b><br>
Trinda L. Ernst</b> is president of the Canadian Bar
Association.</i><br>
<br>
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