Victims group stands behind Bill C-10
Posted Mar 7, 2012 1:05 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A controversial omnibus bill in Ottawa has earned the approval of one victims’ group who calls it a start in the right direction.
The Canadian Crime Victim Foundation says the legislation will provide greater protection for children and youth from sexual predators, provide serious penalties for organized crime and provide greater protection from repeat offenders.
Chair Joe Wamback dismisses recent criticism, calling the bill a minor tweaking of current legislation.
“The bill sends a clear message that Canadians will not tolerate anyone that hurts our children physically or sexually,” he says.
Wamback says anyone who says differently clearly has a huge conflict of interest.
“Look at where the criticism comes from,” he says. “Do you see victims groups, crown attorneys, police groups coming out with statements like that?”
He adds, the same groups of people thought the idea would bankrupt the United States but after 14 years studies show it’s proved to be a deterrent.
“California has saved 54 billion dollars because they were not arresting, jailing and processing the same creeps, time, time and again,” says Wamback.
The long-time advocate also applauds a move that could soon lift the publication ban on some young offenders.
“Rehabilitation within the Youth Criminal Justice Act is a complete joke,” he says. “Two of Canada’s most preeminent psychologists have said it takes three years of sustained intervention to change criminal behaviour.”
Wamback says under the YCJA, counselling is not mandatory and changes would only change to publish the names of violent offenders.
“Wouldn’t you want to know if a murderer or rapists was living beside you?” he asks.
“I believe the average Canadian is smarter and will do the research and understand many of the criticisms are pure fiction.”
