Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - August 5, 2006, Winnipeg, Manitoba Protect kids from paedophiles i have been following in horror the Story about the two Young boys allegedly abducted by a known to some paedophile. An open registry seems to be held Back by fear of vigilantism towards the offender. This is protecting the offender not the innocent children it should be protecting. A person who is sick enough to take away the Basic rights of a child forfeits his own. The safety of a child is much More important than the safety of a paedophile from vigilante action. Amanda Sklepowich Winnipeg put them in prison for life in to Days society the phrases repeat offender and paedophile should not be in the same sentence. Innocent children need to be protected from these villains. The sentence on their first conviction should be life in prison with no parole. Id rather see my tax dollars spent in this matter than in some parole program. We dont need a child Protection act. We need life in prison for these sick individuals who prey on our children. We dont have to think about or vote on it or debate it. Just do it Norman Mccreight Winnipeg height of naivety re demented twisted logic aug. 3. Letter writer Steve out Tings response to Allan leviness column double Standa Daug. 1 is not Only simplistic but is also the height of naivety. He plays a game of what if and what might have been. He asks what if Israel had responded to Lebanon with acts of Charity. He suggests that Lebanon might have responded by taking its own action against Hezbollah. Has he Learned nothing from events in the Middle East i have some what ifs for Oetting what if the arabs had accepted the United nations partition in 1948? might they not now have their own state pre 1967 Borders and All what if when Israel pulled out of Lebanon in 2000, the lebanese government had taken action then to secure its Borders against terrorist incursions into Israel what if when Israel pulled out of Gaza in 2005, the palestinians had begun to build their state instead of using their new Border proximity to launch hundreds of rockets into Israel the results of israelis acts of Charity and their withdrawals have not brought peace but More incursions More kidnappings More bombings More rockets More War. It is said that if the arabs Laid Down their arms there would be peace. If Israel Laid Down its arms there would be no Israel. David Diamond Winnipeg erroneous Assumption re double Standard aug. 1. Allan leviness column is premised on the erroneous Assumption that a majority of canadians believe that the segregation assimilation and demoralization of the aboriginal people was necessary and right for the expansion of British ideals of democracy liberalism and Justice that the deaths of millions of people in the second world War and the bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima was appropriate for the ending of the War and that bombing Afghanistan was an appropriate response to 9 11. Well or. Levine i believe myself not to be a minority when i say All of these actions Are wrong and immoral. I also wonder what Survey your assumptions Are based on. Further i believe excusing these atrocities for the Sake of defending further violence and injustice against innocents is unethical and wrong. Chuck Wright Winnipeg a troubling conundrum re double Standard aug. 1. Allan Levine wants canadians to look at israelis recent attacks on Lebanon in the same Black and White terms As he says they look on the second world War or the Post 9 11 War on terror. He seriously misreads How canadians think. Recent polls show the people of this country Are deeply divided on having troops in Afghanistan. And As the War against Hitler fades into history ongoing debates about carpet bombing using the atomic bomb on Japan and our own treatment of japanese canadians suggest we also View the Good War in shades of Grey. The conflict in the Middle East presents a troubling conundrum for canadians and nowhere is this More evident than in the recent fighting in Lebanon. Canadians accept israelis right to self defence and appreciate the ongoing threat Hezbollah presents to israelis. Moreover a Large though mainly silent number have been willing to give Israel the Benefit of the doubt in this latest Campaign to rout Hezbollah. But after several weeks and hundreds of lebanese civilian casualties including women and children the inconclusive results have reinforced doubts that Israel can actually eliminate Hezbollah. Canadians Are also acutely aware As israelis supporters must be that the carnage has Only raised the terrorists popularity both in Lebanon and across the Arab world. The right to self defence does not mean the right to endlessly Pound villages to rubble just to show that one can. Canadians and world opinion want Israel to play another card. Ted Wakefield Winnipeg our provincial Bis anther what on Earth is this new species of mammal created to represent our province might i suggest Bis anther As it seems to be a Cross Between a Bison and a Panther. Did this piece of Art Cost Money for shame Barbara Fisher Winnipeg save the wheat Board Paul a Mynus article wheat boards future is on the line july 30is entirely accurate. Everyone in Winnipeg and indeed Manitoba should care if the conservative government shuts Down the Canadian wheat Board. The loss of a payroll Worth $ 142 million will have a Ripple effect on Winnipeg no matter what the conservatives say. I am also concerned that Manitoba ass regional minister Vic Toews seems to have disappeared this summer. Why will he not stand up for the wheat Board and for Winnipeg Why is he not defending the Over 400 jobs at the wheat Board the previous Liberal government worked closely with the Board of directors and management of the wheat Board to implement significant governance changes that put control of the wheat Board into the hands of those who have the biggest stake in its Success the Farmers. I fail to understand the logic of a government that puts the wheat boards future at risk without meaningful consultation with the Farmer stakeholders. Minister Toews should take some positive action on behalf of Manitoba. One such example would be to ensure that a Manitoba representative is appointed to the Board of directors. Or. Toews it is time to step up and defend the wheat Board the Farmers and the business Community of Manitoba. Anita Neville my Winnipeg South Centre doubtful dealing t he first priority of police surrounding an abandoned farm House in Saskatchewan where career paedophile Peter Whitmore allegedly was holding a 14 year old boy captive was to get the boy out safely. They accomplished that on wednesday when the boy who is from Winnipeg was freed. Another 10 year old boy from Saskatchewan had fled the farmhouse the previous Day. Or. Whitmore gave himself up. The second priority of police seeking to arrest or. Whitmore should have been to protect every other child in Canada now and in the future from his notorious and Well documented tendencies. He has a record of the sexual abuse and abduction of children going Back to 1993. Since then or. Whitmore has been sentenced to a total of almost 10 years in prison for the abuse or abduction of seven children. He is now accused or suspected of the sexual abuse of children in three provinces. Even before these latest charges it was known that he is an unreconstructed paedophile who has admitted that he needs the judicial system to Stop him and to protect children. On this count the ramp Bumble badly. After or. White ores arrest and his arraignment on charges of multiple sexual abuse against the two boys it was reported that the ramp had Cut a Deal with or. Whitmore. He would not be charged As a dangerous offender the Crown would not seek a life sentence and he would receive a private cell in a segregated area of the prison. In return he would plead guilty and avoid the Cost of a lengthy trial and the ordeal that would present for his alleged victims when they had to testify. The ramp reportedly put this offer in writing. If that were All it was that would not be binding on the prosecutors except in the sense that if the police cannot deliver on what they Promise they lose their credibility in negotiations with criminals. Or. White ores lawyer Daniel Brodsky however says that Crown prosecutor Jeff Kalmakoff also signed the document which leaves less wiggle room for the Crown. The question now is should Saskatchewan authorities try to wiggle out of it. The question involves principle practicality and politics with the principle and the politics for once pretty Well meshing. The principle is that the Laws should be enforced As they were meant to be convicted criminals getting the punishment they deserve it is difficult to believe that or. Whitmore was not Long ago declared a dangerous offender since he offended at every Opportunity he had. The politics is that we have a Federal government that claims it wants to get Tough on crime and a population appalled by what has happened in this Case. The practical part is the Tough part. If the Deal is honoured or. Whitmore avoids facing a life sentence or dangerous offender status. Many canadians will be outraged but the conviction is certain and the children Are spared a trial of a different kind. He can still receive a lengthy sentence and As much As 10 years of close supervision after the inevitable parole. There is a certain sense to that except for this ultimate irony by the time he is out of jail his victims May have children of their own vulnerable themselves to career paedophiles who Are too readily released Back into society. Same old Sam mayor Sam Katz has announced the Cit yes worst kept secret he will run again for mayor this october. And Why not Only two others have declared themselves candidates one of whom is a Little known City activist the others profile got a boost recently with news the Law society of Manitoba is accusing him of practising Law without a licence. Or. Katz is promising to do stuff thatus always been done. But Sam says head ensure the same old would get done Quick Quick the City would aggressively prune its aging Elm tree Stock would Clear streets of Snow faster and would Cut the grass on the boulevards More frequently. There is no shortage of Small ideas at City Hall. At least five councillors May concur with or. Katzes hum drum recipe for electoral Success. The five Are unopposed so far with six weeks left to registrations deadline. Some Brave soul May yet step up to take on one of the incumbents who have name recognition and the Rich allowances to spend in their communities. Incumbency and the spoils of office Are daunting obstacles for newcomers. Winni Eggers can become enthralled with the process of civic elections when there is a real race 59 per cent of electors turned out to the 2004 mayoral by election that had no incumbent and nine candidates. That contest gave or. Katz a Chance to bring his entrepreneurial get it done spirit to the mayors office. More often though incumbents run again and half or fewer of eligible electors vote. It is not a healthy sign when the mayor can declare his candidacy with a to hum platform and a pledge to keep the cogs turning at City Hall. It is a symptom of a prevailing apathy and the ennui afflicting Winnipeg civic politics which has become Good at producing career politicians and Safe seats. There will be a race in the St. Charles Ward where two term councillor Peter de Smedt is making Good on his belief councillors should serve no longer than that. Term limits could Spur interest from potential candidates and contests that Spur interest in electors. If or. Katz needs a Good idea for renewal that is one he can Champion. Andrew s. Ritchie / publisher Bob Cox / editor Winnipeg free press est 1872 / Winnipeg Tribune est 1890 Patrick Flynn / Deputy editor � 2006 Winnipeg free press a division of up Canadian newspapers limited partnership published seven Days a week at 1355 Mountain Avenue Winnipeg Manitoba r2x 3b6, pm 697 7000 the free press welcomes letters from readers. They must include the authors name address and Telephone number. Letters May be edited. Letters to the editor 1355 Mountain Avenue Winnipeg r2x 3b6. Fax 697 7412. E mail letters free press. My. Ca h ave y our s a Winnipeg free press poll to Days question vote online at wow. Winnipeg repress. Com Wake up Winnipeg How bothersome it is to see that results from the aug. 1 free press web poll show that 2,192 people responded to a question about Mel Gibson in View of his alleged anti semitic tirade will you Stop going to see Mel Gibsons movies. Thatus far More than the 613 people who responded the next Day to a question about sex offenders. Is the Canadian Justice system doing enough to protect children from known sex offenders. The latter Issue should draw More attention because it is relevant and very important to our society. Wake up Winnipeg Monica Smith Winnipeg letter of the Day yes 12% / no 88% / total 592 previous question despite record profits should Manitoba should deals made with suspects during hostage Hydro raise rates in order to retire its debt More quickly negotiations be legally binding Freedom of Trade Liberty of religion e editorials Equality of civil rights a 14 w Winnipeg f ree p rests saturday gust 5, 2006 comment editor Gerald flood 697 7269 Gerald. Flood free press. My. Ca Winnipeg repress. Com los Angeles county sheriffs department / associated press Mel Gibson ;