Monthly Archives: January 2007
Pickton Trial Underway
| 1/25/2007 | Posted by Patti under Canadian News, Pickton Murder Trial |
In British Columbia the murder trial of Robert Pickton is now underway. If eventually convicted of all the charges against him, he will be Canada’s worst serial killer. Currently on trial for the murder of six women is currently charged with the murder of 26 women and as the investigation continues in other missing woman, it is possible the number of charges could still grow. The current trial is expected to last up to a year.
The missing and confirmed murdered women came from what is known as the Lower Eastside in Vancouver. Largely populated by addicts and prostitutes it in a sense provides a hunting ground for human predators. Many have raised the image that these people are throw away people and the police make little to no effort to investigate people missing from that area.
Tories Engage in Shell Game
| 1/20/2007 | Posted by Patti under Canadian Politics, Environment, Harper |
So let’s see, last year (and it is a year ago) the Tories came to power with a minority government. Not long afterwards they quietly killed about 100 environmental programs that the Liberals had put into place. Some hadn’t yet kicked in some were running rather well. They also made it pretty clear they have no intention of honouring the Kyoto accord to which we signed on.
Why Are the Americans Trying to Influence Our Immigration?
| 1/20/2007 | Posted by Patti under Canadian News, Canadian Politics |
An article in today’s Globe & Mail is certainly raising some questions with me.
The US is calling on Canada to accept more refugees from Iraq. Specifically they are wanting us to take Iraqi’s who fled to Syria and Jordan, presumably from the war the US started, and will be unlikely to be able to return to Iraq. Canada has already taken about 49 of these refugees.
FLQ Redux?
| 1/19/2007 | Posted by Patti under General |
The Toronto Star is reporting that a letter signed by what claims to be a new cell of the FLQ is being taken very seriously by CSIS and the RCMP. As so it, along with a previous one sent in November, should be taken.
The letters are threatening to target English speaking areas of Montreal between February 15th and March 15th referring to the areas as “strategic targets of importance” They are threatening the use of violence using a combination of devices like letter bombs and remote-control explosive devices. They claim to have the devices in place.
OPP to Ditch Long Weekend Blitzes
| 1/19/2007 | Posted by Patti under General |
Just a day or so ago I was lauding Julian Fantino for bringing back the black and white cruisers because they bring more visibility of the police on patrol. Today, I think he’s nuts. He’s decreed that the long weekend blitzes complete with the media coverage fed by Sgt. Cam Woolley’s anecdotes about boneheaded driving are going to stop.
Oil Prices Drop
| 1/18/2007 | Posted by Patti under World News |
Growing inventory of crude oil has sent oil prices to a 20 month low. The mild winter so far has contributed to the increase in inventory which has drove prices down. So, how come pump prices that literally went up overnight when Hurricane Katrina hit is just trickling slowly downward as the price drops?
Lawsuit Happy Americans
| 1/18/2007 | Posted by Patti under General |
A New York antique dealer has sued four homeless people. Now, I realize that the great American past time is launching lawsuits but suing four homeless people for $1million just strikes me as a ludicrous waste of court time and resources. Seems to me that when people are homeless they are by definition without the means to have a home so suing for monetary return would have zero impact on them.
The owner of the upscale store in the Madison Avenue shopping district. The group apparently has been ‘camped’ out near this store for more than two years. He has appealed to local groups which deal with the homeless, shelters and the police to no avail. The police likely have some recourse but are also aware that even charging them with loitering repeatedly does little to solve the problem and lots to jam the system up with minor charges. Not sure what the owner expected the other groups to do, the homeless people themselves would have to agree to use the services for them to do anything.
I can understand the desire of the store owners to want the homeless people to ‘camp’ elsewhere. Their presence will impact on the comfort of their customers arriving at the store. With the size of a city like New York, I have to admit to some curiosity why the homeless people are so focused on remaining where they are.
I highly doubt should the case ever arrive at a court room that either the defendants will show up or if they do that any judgement against them would be collectable. But hey, it’s a free world eh.
OPP Back in Black & Whites
| 1/18/2007 | Posted by Patti under Canadian News |
“What’s black and white with a cherry on top?”… in my youth anyone knew that was a police car, especially in Ontario where the OPP patrolled in black and white cars. Then, in the late 80′s they gradually switched over to white cars with blue and gold markings. Somewhat stylish but hardly noticeable without the lights on top.
Recently installed OPP Commissioner Julio Fantino has started the OPP back on course to return to the black and white cars. In his view, enforcement is as much about the police being seen as catching those who stray, especially on the highways.
I like the idea of the change. Never really understood the change to the white cars in the first place. Now, I wonder if Fantino is open to them getting rid of the boy scout hats they are in and returning to the traditional hat. Might be too much to hope for.
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