RETURNING CONS TO CANADA RISKY, STUPID

"When in Rome do as the Romans do," and "don't do the crime if you
can't do the time." Now there's a couple of old adages with a strong
message.

And that message is to think twice before embarking on a path of
criminal activity in a foreign country where jail is the reality of
getting caught. Because our federal government, that at one time
boasted about its cradle-to-grave caretaking role, has changed.

According to federal numbers it seems we are no longer as anxious as
we once were to welcome home Canadians who have gone abroad or even
just south of the border to break into homes, traffic in drugs, rob
stores or abuse children.

Hundreds of Canadians are imprisoned in other countries. Under the
Liberals, from 1997 to 2005, not a single request for a transfer home
from a Canadian prisoner serving time in the U.S. was turned down.
This year, under the Conservatives only 14% have been approved.

And that suggests discerning eyes are taking a closer look at the
applications.

Some, like B.C. defence lawyer John Conroy, see this change as
blameworthy and take aim at the Minister of Public Safety. There are
others who believe the minister should be in line for hearty
congratulations. For looking after Canada's interests.

Lawyer Conroy leaves me at a loss. Why blame the minister? He didn't
go abroad, get into a jackpot, cause chaos and violate the norms,
mores and laws of another land.

The individual responsible for the transgression owes a debt to the
violated community, not Canada. And for the most part Canada doesn't
care about the crimes Canadians may commit outside her borders. In
fact, a glossy pamphlet produced by Canada's Foreign Affairs
Department and titled, A Guide for Canadians Imprisoned Abroad,
states: "it is important to note that a foreign conviction will not
constitute a criminal record in Canada."

For years Corrections Canada and the entire prison system have been a
centre of controversy. Critics on the left have panned it for being an
extremely expensive, severely overcrowded training ground for
criminals. The results, say some observers, are that inmate safety is
jeopardized, access to programs limited, rehabilitation compromised
and stress increased for all concerned.

And if those left-leaning critics of Corrections Canada are accurate,
why would other left-leaners -- or anyone else for that matter --
subscribe to a policy that parachutes cons from the States, or
elsewhere, into a criminal training ground?

Why would the Canadian taxpayer pick up the close to $100,000 per year
to incarcerate someone for a bank robbery committed in Kansas City?

Why would we want to add to the overcrowding of our prisons, create a
new batch of risks and even force the premature release of people
still considered dangerous by any standard?

Some will argue fairness. That it's only fair for Canadians to serve
their time in Canada. That somehow only Canada knows how to offer the
correct balance of retribution, deterrence and rehabilitation.
Arrogance defines such argument. So does risky and stupid.

The treaty that allows prisoner transfers among dozens of countries
was initiated and designed for humanitarian reasons. Not to be used
carte blanche.

Hopefully that's is how the discerning eyes in Ottawa see it.