VPD endorses dishonest bill

Well this is rather shocking. Right after Toews publicly claimed he was surprised by the content of the controversial bill C-30, the VPD publicly endorse it dancing around the inherit concern which has become obvious.

CBC radio pointed out that the bill provides for "exceptional circumstances" where police can request information from the ISPs even when they are not conducting "a specific criminal investigation. Toews claim that he was surprised by that section of the bill show that he is either lying or an idiot. The purpose of the bill is warrantless Internet surveillance. If the police has a suspicion of criminal activity they could get a warrant. The purpose of this bill is to do away with the need to get a warrant in order to obtain personal information about someone.

Vancouver Province Back Chat:

Many readers weren't thrilled to learn that police support Bill C-30, the controversial legislation that gives government agents easier access to the private information of Internet users. Fear of a police state continues to build.

Vic Toews, Stephen Harper, RCMP and local police just don't want to play by the rules. That is what the Constitution grants us all. If the police need to get information on a suspected child predator, they can obtain a court order. Otherwise, stay out of our private affairs. They already have enough power.

DIFFERENT BEAT

Cops are civil servants, not policy-makers. If the job is too dangerous, quit. There are lots of jobs available as dog walkers. Timmy's is hiring.

ORWELL SAW IT

1984 : '(

CYBER COPS?

Does anyone really think for one nanosecond that the police wouldn't love this surveillance bill? Of course they would. Could it be any other way. Given their druthers, the police would like to implant a locator in every Canadian's head and tattoo an ID number on their arms.

SURFER FORCE

People need to calm down. The cops need this so that they can determine which of their officers are surfing porn sites.

TOO INVASIVE

These guys have gone too far with this Internet surveillance bill.

POLICE STATE

The police state will be upon us soon if these kind of laws are not stopped.

It has nothing to do with crime and everything to do with freedom.

Our fathers fought for freedom and your government is trying to steal it from you with laws that make Soviet Russia look free.

COMPROMISE

To protect the most vulnerable, we should be willing to compromise - no rights are lost unless you're the bad guy. Not true. When we give up our liberty and throw away the Charter of rights we are all diminished.

7 year old in hospital after accidental GHB overdose

A seven-year-old girl from Langley is expected to make a full recovery after ingesting what police believe was the date-rape drug. On Saturday night, the child was found unconscious, possibly from a drug overdose, at her home in Langley and was rushed to Surrey Memorial Hospital.

RCMP Cpl. Holly Marks said police believe the girl may have ingested GHB by accident. "It is possible that it was contained in a water bottle, that she would have drank it innocently," Marks told ctvbc.ca. "I don't know why or what purpose it served in the residence."

Police have interviewed the girl's mother and a man who is currently staying at their home. The Serious Crime Unit will continue the investigation to determine whether criminal charges will be recommended.

“The thought that this drug would have been laying around a residence where a seven-year-old girl could pick it up is obviously disturbing,” said Marks. Indeed, what was that drug doing in the home at all? This drug is much to available in BC.

Vikileaks

Another bizarre twist to a sad saga of deception and theft. Vic Toews was the scoundrel that came out supporting Harpers' warrantless Internet surveillance bill. The had the audacity to claim it had anything to do with catching criminals when it clearly did not. Then he came out with the ultimate offensive lie and said that anyone who doesn't support warrantless Internet surveillance stands in support of child pornographers. This is what I mean about and evil government. Making outrageous lies that are absolutely inflammatory to steal our liberty and rob our pensions.

After he made that outrageously offensive lie, someone opened up a Twitter account called Vikileaks and started quoting things from his divorce affidavits. The fact is while the Vic Toews was billed the "minister of family values" he was embroiled in a messy divorce after fathering a child with a much younger woman.

It is shameful that the outrage has been the violation of his privacy. Justine Trudeau even came out with a bizarre support for Toews after the twitter account was opened. This is what's wrong with North America. A guy like Newt Gingrich can get so far in politics when he is a known adulterer. Vic Toews another Neocon pushing the neo con lies was supposed to be a good family man, then turns out having an affair and farthing a child with a much younger woman. That is relevant. What about the violation of OUR privacy when the Harper government throws away the charter of Rights passes a bill that authorises warrantless Internet Surveillance?

Surprised by content of online surveillance bill

Now Toews says he's surprised by content of online surveillance bill. What, are younow claiming you didn't read it?

Public Safety Minister Vic Toews says he is surprised to learn that a section of the government's online surveillance bill provides for "exceptional circumstances" under which "any police officer" can request customer information from a telecommunications service provider.

In an interview airing Saturday on CBC Radio's The House, Toews said his understanding of the bill is that police can only request information from the ISPs where they are conducting "a specific criminal investigation."

But Section 17 of the 'Protecting Children from Internet Predators Act' outlines "exceptional circumstances" under which "any police officer" can ask an ISP to turn over personal client information.

"I'd certainly like to see an explanation of that," Toews told host Evan Solomon after a week of public backlash against Bill C-30, which would require Internet service providers to turn over client information without a warrant.

"This is the first time that I'm hearing this somehow extends ordinary police emergency powers [to telecommunications]. In my opinion, it doesn't. And it shouldn't."

He's right it shouldn't but I say it's bullshit he didn't know it did. That is the intent of the bill. If the police were conducting a specific criminal investigation, they could get a warrant. The purpose of this bill is WARRANTLESS online surveillance. Just like when Harper's' gestapo kicked out a University student from one of his rallies because she posted a picture of herself with another candidate on facebook.

Remembering Whitney Houston

There is no doubt Whitney Houston will be remembered as the talented shining light that she was. Glimpses of her funeral showed the love that she had for others and the love they share with her. That's likely the best measurement of success.

There has been talk about her struggle with drugs and checking herself into rehab despite the song that jokes about avoiding rehab. Yet no doubt that was such a small part of her life, her memory and her legacy will be filled with talent, love and light.

Glancing at some tabloids there has been some bizarre headlines from the typical trashloids. Don't buy those. Don't support the trash. I remember seeing someone I knew buy one of those tabloids and said buying that is supporting the people who killed Dianna. Indeed it is. Supply and demand declares that if people weren't consumed in the gossip, the paparazzi wouldn't be so ruthlessly invasive and shamefully negative.

Her passing brings two things to mind. First is the love and the loss that a premature death brings. I think of Jammie Kehoe who was senselessly murdered at such a young age when he had his whole life before him. No doubt his parents had bigger plans for him. The second is many good people have fallen because of drug addiction.

Somehow we need to rise above glorifying addiction without being judgemental realizing it could happen to any of us or to any of our children. There is nothing noble about profiting from exploitation. Coveting materialism does not make greed or exploitation good. The violence we have seen locally because of the gang war has made that clear.

Unfortunately, Amy Winehouse is more likely to be remembered for her addictions as well as her talent because her drug addiction had such a dramatic physical effect on her appearance. One of the saddest things I ever saw was the release of a video one of Amy Winehouse's "friends" took of her smoking crack looking at her wedding picture. The betrayal of her friend was one thing but the whole using crack to escape the pain of a loss in a relationship was sad. She was human and those kinds of drugs are very addictive and very damaging. Before the drugs, Amy Winehouse was also a wonderfully talented singer. Not many rock stars haven't had a problem with drugs.

BC Prisons – Letting the system work

We’ve talked a lot about the problems within the BC Judicial system. We’ve talked a lot about how Harper's new over reaching crime bills make the situation worse without fixing the inherit problems within the system.

Let’s look at over crowding. BC prisons are currently operating at 157% of capacity rate. Some say it's closer to 200%. Clearly the first problem is funding. Recently we did away with the two for one pretrial credit. That was a good step. Yet that is going to cost more money. The next thing that has to go is mandatory statutory release after two thirds of the sentence. Time off for good behavior is one thing but mandatory statutory release after two thirds of the sentence is served is wrong. This too will cost more money.

The question is how much money do we want to spend and what do we want to spend it on. Obviously everyone would rather spend money on schools and hospitals than on prisons. Yet prisons are essential. Privatizing prisons is wrong. Making prisons for profit is an abomination. No one should profit off of incarceration.

The problem is violent crime. We ask for mandatory minimum sentences for violent crime and they come back with mandatory minimum sentences for growing pot. Someone isn’t listening. Someone has an agenda and it is not in the public interest.

The problem is funding. The hated Campbell government has consistently slashed funding for prisons while they lined their own pockets with huge pay raises and gold plated pensions. The very pension Campbell originally campaigned against. That was a breach of contract. Now Harper wants to take away our pensions to pay for a bank pay off. This isn’t a hidden conspiracy. It is an evil agenda.

So yes, to fix our broken judicial system we’re going to need some more money. We’re going to need to build some more prisons. But we don’t need to fill them with nonviolent criminals. Our prisons are at 157% capacity as it is. We need to fix this. Over crowding in prisons is not in the public’s best interest.

We’re going to need to address violent crime. Murder and sexual assault are serious crimes that need a significant consequence. Likewise investment fraud where white collar criminals embezzle millions and steal pensions from seniors is like mugging a little old lady times a hundred. Bre-X, all the fake companies on the stock market that rip people off, steal pensions and destabilize the market, these need to be addressed and are a lot more important than nonviolent crime. Clearly Stephen Harper does not have his priorities right - morally or financially.

You don’t have to privatize a prison to offer inmates employment. We should have working prisons where inmates can work if they so chose. I’m not talking about forced slave labour. I’m saying if you want statutory release, then you have to work and help pay for your incarceration. You can earn a token amount of spending money but most of the wage goes to paying for your room and board with the promise of getting early release if you chose to work while in prison. That is a system based on incentive. Learn a trade in prison? Why not? That would be in the public’s best interest. There is nothing worse than getting a life sentence to do nothing. We all need to be doing something.

Oshawa man arrested over Pickering dungeon

Remember that abandoned house in Ontario that had a dungeon in it? Well Robert Edwin White, from Oshawa was arrested Monday in connection with a mysterious dungeon discovered in an abandoned Pickering farmhouse late last year. I am told that the Hells Angels still have a large presence in Oshawa even after their clubhouse was seized.

I am told that after the police shut down their Toronto clubhouse they moved in to Pickering and went low key. I am told Durham county is crawling with Hells Angels. Pickering and Oshawa would both be part of Durham county in Ontario.

15,000 Slaves in Canada

15,000 slaves in Canada, 80% of those are women and children. The Salvation Army is running more commercials about human trafficking in Canada. Some say the ads are controversial because they come at a time when some sex trade workers are making court applications to legalize prostitution. Clearly the prostitution industry is facing problems just like the marijuana industry in Canada. Will legalization stop the exploitation? I can't see how it can.

Human trafficking in Canada is a serious problem. I've already mentioned about my friend from Montreal who claimed he saw a crack house in Montreal where prostitutes were chained to the bed, had a bucket to go to the bathroom in and were paid for their services in crack. When the Salvation Army runs an add claiming that the truth isn't sexy, I have to agree. Neither is profiting from that kind of exploitation.

When I think of forced prostitution and the Hells Angels I'm reminded of the Surrey House of Horrors where they tried to force Donny Harder's girlfriend into prostitution to repay a $300 debt they electrocuted her boyfriend for. She left town instead. How many others have they forced into that lifestyle with threats? I saw a crack dealer at Surrey Central try and recruit a 14 year old girl after he boyfriend bought some crack and sold out his girlfriend in the process.

I am also reminded of Adam Hall, the Sergeant at Arms for the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Hells Angels. Court affidavits claim he forced three women into prostitution and told them "You work for me now," he allegedly told one woman "There's no way out of it." One confidential informant told police the forced prostitution took place at the group's clubhouse on Woodland Road in Lee.

Fighting online Surveillance

Harpers' warantless online surveillance is in the news again. Warrantless Online Spying Bills Target all Canadians; Unpopular Legislation Tabled as Petition Tops 80,000 Signatures. Conservative Government Ignores 8 in 10 Canadians.

"Snoop and spy" bill could be costly overreach - The Globe and Mail.The petition is at StopSpying.ca

The Harper government claim this over reaching bill will help them catch criminals like pedophiles.That is a bold faced lie. This warrentless Internet surveillance has absolutely nothing to do with catch criminals.

Under the current legislation,formed in accordance with the Canadian charter of rights protecting citizens from unnecessary searches and seizures states that the police can get a warrant to tap a phone or do any kind of surveillance on a suspect if there is enough or any reasonable suspicion that person is involved in criminal activity. That law already exists. We have seen it in action.

We have seen inept or corrupt judges in BC throw out good wire tap evidence when a warrant was issued. In the David Giles case the judge said well I didn't hear what you heard on the wire tap but that was not true. His lawyer admitted his client said convicted cocaine dealer Dave Revelle made him $30,000.00 in the past several months. His lawyer argued that only proved Revelle was working for Giles not that they were involved in criminal activity. Nonsense. His lawyer failed to show what legitimate business Revelle was doing for Giles that earned him that much money in such a short time.

So the issue of getting warrants for suspected criminal activity is not a problem. The problem is when the government wants to spy on people for political affiliation not for suspected criminal activity. That is why they want to change the legislation then foot us the bill after cutting funding for our pensions.

Remember the last election. The Harper government was caught kicking a young activist out from attending one of his speaking engagements because they has seen her post a photo of herself with another candidate on facebook. That was documented. They realty did that. How on earth did they know she had posted a picture of herself with another candidate on her facebook? That is way too intrusive and is a clear example of spying for political affiliation not for criminal suspicion.

Giving them even more parameters for warrantless surveillance then making taxpayers pay the bill is wrong. This is not a conservative bill. Conservatives oppose warantless surveillance. Stephen Harper is not a conservative. He is a neocon.

Nick Diaz

Speaking of recreational pot use, how about that Nick Diaz decision? He tested positive for pot. Who freaking cares? Pot is not a steroid. It’s not a synthetic performance enhancer. Why one earth are they making such a big deal about it? Turns out he even has a California medical prescription for it. These guys getting all freaked out about it, over turning one of his victories and fining him huge amounts of money is bizarre. A salute to Nick Diaz and a middle finger to the league that refuses to recognize his California prescription.

Right now we caught between two extremes. One growing group want to legalize pot. Another smaller group wants to implement mandatory minimum sentences for growing pot. Both are extremes. Decriminalizing pot or at least prioritizing violent crime and hard drugs like crack and meth will take us forward as a society. Focusing on nonviolent crime like growing pot will simply prevent us from dealing with violent crime in out already over burdened judicial system

The Association of Independent Grow ops

Looks like it's time to form a Union or at least an Association of sorts. Hells Angels being accused of ripping off their own growers? A Hells Angels grower recently found dead in a ditch? Hells Angels accused of using violence to take over independent grow ops? Another Surrey guy caught speeding outside Kamloops with a gun and a cell phone jammer. We won't know his name until April 23rd but Haney runs Kamloops. I think it's time growers pull together and form an association.

Obviously, there are two ways of doing this. Some will ask for help from the UN or the Rock Machine. Those enforces will shoot their enforcers until everyone is left blind or at least shot. The other way is to go legit. Get a permit for a medicinal grow op and just grow for people with a prescription. Once you do that, you can call the police any time the Hells Angels threaten to take over your grow. Since their threats entrench their criminal organization status, every time they make a threat, the police need to seize a clubhouse or piece of their property. Cause and effect. The seizure of the Victoria clubhouse has been upheld. Time to take the next step.

Growers have a right to be independent. The Hells Angels greed and injustice has gone too far. When the Hells Angels use violence to take over existing grow ops, they ruin things for everyone. A free market is a free market. Some people say they like to buy pot from the black door because they always give you a fair price and it's always a good product. If that was the case, then that should be enough to drive their business. Customers would go to them because they could be trusted. Customers would be happy with the price and the product. Back in the day, customer service mattered.

Now they just use extreme violence and beat the tar out of anyone selling or they shoot their competitors. That is not a free market. It opens the door to a whole world of deranged violence driven by greed. It's time to rat out the real rats and stop the deranged violence.