ON THE ROAD TO A POLICE STATE

Re: Property Seizure By Provinces OK: Court, April 18.

All seven justices of the Supreme Court of Canada have agreed that
the provinces have the right to completely ignore the heart of the
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

A Canadian citizen suspected of a crime no longer has any rights at
all. He might be charged, he might not. He might be tried, he might
not. It makes no difference, for even without charge or trial he can
still be punished. What a thoughtful gift to the provinces. What a
boon for their strained finances.

Here's how the new system works: An eager police officer takes the
results of an illegal search to an ambitious bureaucrat, the
bureaucrat tells the story to a willing judge and if the judge thinks
that it looks as though someone is up to something -- presto! -- he's
guilty. Confiscate his property. Seize his money. Take away his house.

Canada has taken a giant step away from fundamental justice and the
rule of law; a step on the short road which leads to a police state.

David Stretton, Maple Ridge, B. C.