Pubdate: Tue, 24 Jul 2007
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2007 The Province
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/theprovince/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Darwin Nickel

SURRENDERING OUR SAFEGUARDS

I am utterly amazed at how fast Province readers are willing to
dismiss the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

I soldiered for 32 years, and have seen things in other countries that
really made me appreciate Canada and our respect for human rights. But
while judges have abused the Charter and criminals have leveraged it
to their advantage, what's the alternative? As it is, we still have
problems.

Do you realize Revenue Canada can seize everything you own, and you
have to prove your innocence? Police officers can kill someone, and
they investigate themselves. Judges can denigrate you and hide behind
a concept called "contempt of court" if you dare to challenge their
authority.

And then there are our "border guards." It is funny how a name change
erases in everyone's mind that these "customs" officers had unbridled
authority to do as they see fit, regardless of our rights, be it drugs
or a camera you can't prove you bought in Canada prior to leaving.

According to one reader, law-abiding citizens have nothing to fear, so
let's rip up the Charter and let there be no safeguards.

I'll go one better.

Let's change the law, so you are guilty until proven innocent. After
all, if you are innocent, what do you have to fear?

Darwin Nickel, Surrey
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake