[Newsbot]

<strong>Title: </strong> <a href="/link.php?id=27413" target="_blank">Dion's hard line on crime: pleads for murderer</a> (click to view)

<strong>Category:</strong> <a href="/news/topic/18-law--order" target="_blank">Law & Order</a>
<strong>Posted By: </strong> <a href="/modules.php?name=Your_Account&op=userinfo&username=ridenrain" target="_blank">ridenrain</a>
<strong>Date: </strong> 2007-11-22 12:11:09
<strong>Canadian</strong>

[saturn_656]

Way to embarrass yourself. Reason number 1123 Dion would never get my vote: His love for convicted multiple murders.

[saturn_656]

*murderers

[sasquatch2]

$1:

But Dion argued that the Tories are walking away from Canadian principles.

Not really....LIBRANO policies perhaps but the LIBRANOs no longer define Canadian government policy........because they are not the government.

[Wada]

Well I think Harper's new policy stinks. It's lazy and uncaring both of which do not represent the Canadian ethic aside from a small group of neo-cons.

[camerontech]

it was always policy to ask for appeal, even if you knew it was going nowhere.

kind of strange to step away from it. The tories say they will stop doing that to democratic countries but there's some democratic countries you still can't fully trust. I'm sure it's a case by case basis thing anyways.
regardless, I don't really care that much

[Warfbc]

He committed the crime in Montana and is subject to the consequences of their justice system. GET OVER IT DION. Stick the needle in, the sooner the better.

[Delwin]

Canada's stance is that we are officially against the death penalty. When a citizen of a country whom is against the death penalty is put to death, the leader should make it abundantly clear that the state involved is performing an act that we believe should be outlawed based on humanitarian grounds. This has been Canada's policy for a long time.


Harper is putting his own beliefs before those of the majority of Canadians. Appalling really.

[Freakinoldguy]

$1:

Dion says he wrote the letter because the Tory government has decided to ignore Canadian policy by refusing to officially appeal Smith's death sentence, which is outlawed in Canada.

While I'm quite sure that there are a number of convictions of Canadian nationals in foreign countries that should be appealed by the Government, this doesn't appear to be one.

Since Mr Dion claims it's a "Canadian Policy" to request clemency. I do have one question. Is it an actual bill that was enacted through legislation, requiring the Government to request clemency for convicted murderers in other countries, or is it a simply an unlegislated tatic used by previous governments to bolster their image?

[ryan29]

sasquatch2 sasquatch2:

$1:

But Dion argued that the Tories are walking away from Canadian principles.

Not really....LIBRANO policies perhaps but the LIBRANOs no longer define Canadian government policy........because they are not the government.

dion is just trying to cause as much fuss over this one little case is possible , say maybe he should of became a lawyer , it be an improvement over his time as a politician .

[Wada]

I'm not sure that essentially telling the Canadian people, the majority, when he's in the minority is at all in his best interest. It can't hurt as far as I'm concerned.

[Delwin]

Freakinoldguy Freakinoldguy:

$1:

Dion says he wrote the letter because the Tory government has decided to ignore Canadian policy by refusing to officially appeal Smith's death sentence, which is outlawed in Canada.

While I'm quite sure that there are a number of convictions of Canadian nationals in foreign countries that should be appealed by the Government, this doesn't appear to be one.

Since Mr Dion claims it's a "Canadian Policy" to request clemency. I do have one question. Is it an actual bill that was enacted through legislation, requiring the Government to request clemency for convicted murderers in other countries, or is it a simply an unlegislated tatic used by previous governments to bolster their image?

There is very strong case law that establishes that a fugitive can not be extradited to a place which has a death penalty as it violates the Canadian Charter.

http://csc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/1991/1 ... 2-858.html


The ramifications of this precedence are that Stephen Harper is sitting idly and allowing for another country to deny rights to one of our citizens which we believe should be unalienable. We have deemed capital punishment to be a cruel and unusual punishment. Does Harper believe in Canadian law ? or just American ?

[Alta_redneck]

This guy was offered a 16 year sentence for a guilty plea, he asked for the death penalty instead. Now he’s being the coward we all knew he was. Time for the green goo injection and send him to hell.

[Delwin]

Harper's decision undermines the decision of the supreme court not to extradite to countries which have the death penalty. How can we as a country support the non-extradition policy and condone the execution of Canadian prisoners. It is not within Harper's right to undermine the charter.

[Wada]

Exactly! It's not the same as just being pricky and not bringing any opposition to the climate conference.