SHIPPING CROOKS OUT OF B.C. NOT ON OTTAWA'S TO-DO LIST

Solicitor-General John Les says he's disappointed Ottawa won't help
deal with a tide of criminals flocking to B.C. -- but he is pleased
the issue is being discussed.

Both Les and police in B.C. are concerned that other provinces often
won't pay to bring home criminals who come to B.C. with outstanding
warrants from elsewhere in Canada.

In past, Jamie Graham, chief of the Vancouver Police Department, has
proposed a "Con Air" style system to fly such criminals home.

Justice ministers from the provinces and territories joined federal
minister Vic Toews in a discussion of the issue this week during a
meeting in Newfoundland.

"There is not too much that is going to happen courtesy of the federal
government on this," Les said.

"They have a fairly heavy agenda in terms of criminal-justice reform
they are undertaking, and this, apparently, is not on their to-do list
at the moment."

Les said he found the situation "somewhat disappointing" and noted
Toews cited the issue as a concern during a visit to B.C. in May.

After some discussion, the issue was referred to a working group of
deputy ministers who will look for solutions "to make sure we start
shipping these people back in some way."