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RCMP Families Map Out Role On Election Trail
Pubdate: Wed, 26 Oct 2005
Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB)
Copyright: 2005 The Edmonton Journal
Contact: http://www.canada.com/edmonton/edmontonjournal/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134
Author: Carly Weeks, CanWest News Service
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?199 (Mandatory Minimum Sentencing)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/grow+operations
RCMP FAMILIES MAP OUT ROLE ON ELECTION TRAIL
Ottawa Trek Fails To Sell MPs On Tough Sentences
OTTAWA - The families of the four RCMP constables killed in
Mayerthorpe said Tuesday they'll make criminal justice reform an issue
in the next federal election if the federal government doesn't produce
results.
The families were considering their options after getting no promises
of action on Parliament Hill in response to their campaign for reforms.
Eight family members of the murdered officers were in Ottawa on
Tuesday to meet with Prime Minister Paul Martin and MPs from other
parties. They want the government to scrap plans to decriminalize
marijuana and to impose tougher sentences on cannabis grow-operators
and other convicted criminals.
"We're going to be campaigning -- campaigning for the issues. If a
party is opposed to us on the issues, then I believe that they are
going to be opposed to what the majority of Canadians really want,"
said Don Schiemann of Stony Plain.
Schiemann's son, Peter, was one of the four officers killed on March 3
by James Roszko at his farm near Mayerthorpe.
The four Mounties had staked out Roszko's farm after discovering
stolen car parts and a marijuana grow operation in a Quonset hut there.
"I think it's safe to say that, in varying degrees, there's a sense
from all four parties that there are significant changes that are
needed," Schiemann said after meeting with the politicians.
He acknowledged, however, that he won no commitment from the prime
minister on scrapping plans to decriminalize simple possession of marijuana.
"We didn't really get much of a discussion on it at all. We were more
focused in the meeting with him on (other) justice issues."
The family members met for an hour with Martin, Justice Minister Irwin
Cotler and Public Safety Minister Anne McLellan. The discussion
focused on the issue of mandatory minimum sentences for cannabis
grow-operations, and for crimes committed using a weapon, for illegal
importation of banned weapons and child abuse.
Roszko, who took his own life after ambushing and killing the
officers, had been charged with 36 offences over the years and
convicted 12 times, including once for sexually assaulting a
10-year-old boy.
The number of marijuana grow operations is continuing to rise in
Canada, Schiemann said. Of particular concern is the fact some of the
grow-ops have an array of assault weapons on site, he said. "It's
about time we drew the line and said this has got to stop."
The families also met with Conservative Leader Stephen Harper, NDP
justice critic Joe Comartin, Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe and
Bloc MP Real Menard.
The politicians told the family members that they are taking their
concerns about drug operations and gun violence seriously, said Keith
Myrol of Red Deer, whose son, Brock, was one of the officers killed.
"Our commitment from the Prime Minister's Office was that the issues
that we brought forward to them will be taken seriously and will be
worked upon," Myrol said.
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