|
(Prime Time Crime exclusive July 18, 2011)
Jumping on the train
By Bob Cooper
When the Provincial Government launched the Missing Women’s Commission of Inquiry (after previously saying it wasn’t necessary) I wondered how long before members of the Race/Poverty Industry began angling for a free ride on this gravy train. Well, it looks like the first ones into the Club Car didn’t even wait for the Conductor to yell “All Aboard”. In a letter to the Premier and the A-G, the Community Inquiry Committee in the form of Jamie Lee Hamilton and Sadie Kuehn provided their views on the composition, mandate, and conduct of the inquiry.
Ms. Hamilton needs no introduction while the Internet describes Ms. Kuehn as a Vancouver-based writer, lecturer, and consultant with a lifetime of experience in human rights, social justice work, and activism. The Georgia Straight published their letter in its entirety but didn’t bother to ask any questions about the Community Inquiry Committee like for instance, how many members the Committee consists of, who they represent, etc.
Reading the letter provides some insight into why most left-wing regimes in the world have collapsed while those that remain (like our present city government) are mired in dysfunction.
To give the Committee some credit, the letter begins by stating that “Our view is that the recently released Vancouver Police Department’s report, authored by Deputy Chief Doug Le Pard still leaves many questions unanswered” at least acknowledging that some questions were answered, a kinder assessment than that of Rich Coleman. Then it gets a tad silly, to wit:
“The chair of the inquiry should be a woman, ideally an Aboriginal woman”.
Goodness ladies, as avowed foes of racism and sexism do you even listen to yourselves? Imagine if instead of Mr. Justice Williams another judge, let’s say Madam Justice Dillon, was appointed to hear the Pickton trial and Willie got up and demanded a White male judge. You know, cause there may be issues of race & gender involved. The Court: “Denied”. Screams from Willie: “Don’t silence me”.
“Wide scope should be given to the many areas of public policy and how it contributes to increasing the dangers of sex work and making survival sex workers more vulnerable. The criminal justice system, policing, provincial and federal laws, to civic bylaws and various levels of institutional discrimination all have contributed to the increase risk. Institutional barriers to accessing justice need to be probed as they relate to this case and others like it, especially as a means to prevent further tragedies”.
Why stop there? Let’s go back to the Emancipation Proclamation, the founding of Canada, or perhaps The Crusades.
“A review of how Aboriginal people are systemically marginalized within the policing and legal system as well as a review of the role that gender and race played in delaying the investigation”
Since you’ve already declared it as fact, why bother with an Inquiry?
But all this stuff aside, what it really comes down to is this:
“Community organizations should have the opportunity to have intervenor status at the Inquiry”
Right. A public platform and publicly funded lawyer for each and every fringe group who are already bellied up to the public trough. Lefty heaven. They get their 15 minutes and we get to pay for it.
Fortunately, Attorney-General Barry Penner stepped in and turned off the tap. The government is already funding lawyers for the victims’ families who, unlike these groups, have a direct stake in the case.
Wally Oppal is now pressuring the government to reconsider saying that these groups need lawyers to cross-examine the police. I suspect that counsel for the families won’t spare the rod in that regard. He also says they could do it for under 2 million dollars. Much as I like & respect Wally, I recall hearing similar promises from government about the cost of the Fast Cat Ferries & the new Convention Center.
Stand your ground Mr. Penner. This train has plenty of coal and can afford to run a few passengers short. Oh, sorry, I shouldn’t have mentioned the Railroad.
Bob Cooper is a retired Vancouver policeman. He walked a beat in Chinatown and later worked in the Asian Organized Crime Section and the Homicide Squad.