@YoundAndDumb

Great questions.

When the Conservatives under Harper changed things before, they did NOT actually promise to do it. They actually created a fake "crisis" first.

( I am going to put what I wrote way below so people can skip it. Needless to say protecting my clients is something I am passionate about but I want to answer these questions without too much detail first and let anyone who wants to skip my typical ranting to skip it.)

If the conservatives win, its unknown what they will actually do, but PP has said he is happy to use the "Notwithstanding clause" which allows him to bypass the courts and provinces. So he could breach your charter rights and tough shit. And he warned you. That's fair, at least he is honest about it.

Waivers before 9/11 existed and I think they always will. Canada cares about impaired and guns more than the US, and the US cares more about drugs and prostitution than Canada. So we are different. So I doubt we will ever be completely out of the waiver business.

Personally, I would like to see a limit. I think its more fair to set a certain limit on how long you need to keep doing waivers. One of my favorite clients is 84 and although he is a healthy 84, his record was literally "kidnapping" his now wife when they were both 17 and her father was angry that she was out past curfew.

I guess he ended up with a "life sentence". LOL

*********************************************************************************************************************************************************
Below is what Pardons were changed in 2012

Step#1 was Graham James. The disgraced ex hockey coach was granted a pardon, although he remained on the sex offender registry.
Why would they give him a Pardon? Well victims were hesitant about coming forward. Theo Fleury (NHL Hockey player) specifically refuted allegations that he was molested because he was still playing. (I get it, he didn't want to be the target of slurs) Until he retired and THEN wrote a book. He THEN shared what really happened to him. And its terrible.

But his refusal to testify left the crown having to cut a deal, James got 3 years, and once he served his sentence, he left the country. Fleury became a HUGE conservative booster and supporter.

(I am not judging victims like Theo Fleury. But had he testified, James would have been punished properly. He then went on to complain that the pardon system should be eliminated, despite the fact that he himself has had run ins with the law. He helped create the lenient sentence, then wants EVERYONE to suffer because he did not testify)

When he came back to Canada to sign in, the police officer noticed he had no record and called the Toronto SUN. The SUN was outraged, published the story and even got an OP ED from Theo Fleury. He urged Harper to "do something".

The Toronto SUN later published a story claiming "Karla Holmoka is going to get a pardon!!!!" No sources, no nothing. Remember, the SUN claimed Paul Bernardo wasn't the bad guy (despite doing what he did on video) to the SUN, it was ALL Karla. she ended up with a 12 year sentence, so "technically 17 years later she was eligible for a pardon.

So people got upset and said "something has to be done!!!" despite the experts saying "she hasn't applied, and would NEVER get a pardon." And I guarantee she would NEVER get a pardon. They would use the "this would put the system of justice into disrepute" and it would.

So Harper used that to have a "consultation". 1074 people replied and said "the system is good, at most minor tweaking" 12 people -TWELVE PEOPLE said "the system is bad and needs to change"!

Harper agreed with the 12. He had the BALLS to actually PUBLISH those numbers, because he had a majority, and FUCK everyone. When I read it, I thought it had to be a typo. Over 100 MP's were conservative, and only 12 people replied that it needed to be changed?

They changed the fees and rules, and instead of approximately 22 000 people getting a pardon, and getting jobs, less than 5000 pardons were granted.

Don't forget, Pardons present NO risk if granted. If they are arrested the pardon is REVOKED.

Anyways, the Parole Board was also changed and Conservative appointees were given cushy jobs. One of them, a Lawyer from St Catherines was caught by ME lying about an applicant. A client of Pardons Canada got denied a pardon. He came to me for the appeal. He didnt understand why the Peel police would fabricate a bunch of things about him. We BOTH assumed it was the police. We got the police reports, because I ALWAYS want the details before I respond and the Peel Police told the TRUTH. We were both DUMBFOUNDED.

The Pardon officer had made it up. I confronted the supervisor and I have NEVER seen a Pardon granted fast like that EVER. I was so angry. This guy assumed the system was trying to screw him and I could not believe he was right.

That officer is STILL working there. I bring her up EVERY TIME I want the Board to cut a client some slack. It works. I NEVER let them forget it. And I NEVER will.

And that is one of the reasons I will ALWAYS try and get ANYONE but the Conservatives elected. The stuff these appointees pulled at the board on top of this? Terrible. I won't rant on this more, but it makes me so angry they can treat our OWN people this way AND collect a paycheque.

Follow up question, specifically related to waivers and criminality:

If the conservatives win, are you aware of anything in their platform that people in our situation need to be immediately concerned with? Examples might be higher thresholds for pardons, easier public access to records etc…

And second, do you ever foresee a scenario where the US & Canada coordinate for things like waivers? I have never heard of such a proposal, but since Canada has similarly restrictive border eligibility requirements could there be a mechanism developed where we work together to issue waivers to each other’s citizens?

@YoundAndDumb

Yes, Conservatives KNOW the data, and how to fight crime and drug abuse. (To be fair all parties know this) but getting votes is the problem.

The US always had access to CPIC. Harper made other parts of CPIC accessible. For example, you could in the past seal the record and if you had not been denied entry, you could simply pretend you had no record, and when the CPB officer checked, it would say "no record".

Now, he checks for 3 things.
1. An existing record. ANYTHING now makes you inadmissible, despite what they tell you.
2. Charges that were dismissed/withdrawn/stayed
3. Prohibitions. Even if the "weapons" prohibition is over, it remains on CPIC. Driving prohibitions too.

So you get a pardon. You had drug possession, or an assault, or a crime with a weapon. Like "unregistered weapon" for example. You had a gun prohibition. The record is gone, but the CPB officer can see the Prohibition, which clues them in that you HAD a record.

If you claim no record? Then he asks you to get fingerprinted under the privacy act. Boom. Caught.

There was NO reason to give them this access..... so why?

Well I have never been able to get any information. But I have talked to 3 Conservative MP's in person (during that time) and I give high marks to Kyle Seeback (he is a big Nebraska Cornhusker fan like me because he went to law school there) for being honest, and polite. He disagreed clearly with Harper but realistically told me he wasn't going to die on this hill.

The 2 others were terrible. Basically if you have a criminal record you are shit and deserve it. But listen to the rhetoric. They say "tough on crime" because they know its a "racist dog whistle". Neither survived re-election (Seeback is still in office)

Don't get me wrong BTW. I had a meeting with a Liberal once Peter Fonseca. I went with a client, and he objected to me even being there and it got very heated. So assholes can come in any stripe. What he didn't do was insist the client was dirt because she had a criminal record.

Anyways VOTE. I support people who vote, no matter who. If you have a record, or have problems with the border, just be aware that it should be OTHER issues you support if you vote Conservative, they are NOT very compassionate or even logical when it comes to crime and punishment.

I don't vote NDP mainly because they cannot win. But they ALWAYS are the most compassionate and believe the most in a system of justice based on rehabilitation. They are correct about the effects. The problem? They only split the vote. They cannot win. People don't vote for whats in their interest, they vote for what they "think" resonates. If we ALL voted in our "best interest" (more funding for education, health, higher wages and companies paying their fair share) the NDP would with EVERY election. Fortunately for the Conservatives and to a lesser extent the Liberals, big business likes to pay as little as possible and funnel profits into shareholders and execs. And Canadians fall for it.

So I vote the way I vote because it helps my clients and I think the Liberals can win. Protect the weak and vulnerable and do whats best for as many Canadians as possible, or at least as close to it as possible.

John, if ai may steer back to the subject of waivers, COIC, Pardons & the like:

You raised an interesting point which I was not aware of, stating in 2012 Harper gave the US access to CPIC!

I / we defer to you in these matters as it is your area of expertise, can you elaborate on that point & share some thoughts or concerns you have about potential new harmful legislation being talked about if you are aware of any such topics?

I may be wrong, but I do seem to vaguely remember that there was a proposal at one point by a member of the conservative caucus to render all criminal records and pardons publicly accessible?

I would simply add that many people are stuck doing waivers because in 2012 Stephen Harper allowed the US to see parts of CPIC that they could not see before. Many people are stuck doing waivers when in the past they could hide the record with a pardon.

I don't think the Conservatives are more fiscally responsible at all. When you give tax cuts to corporations, they simply give money back to shareholders or executives get bonuses. Corporations already pay a lower rate. And privatization is why the US health system is a mess.

Liberals spent during covid. Liberals spend money but I don't see it being crazy. Many people would criticize that in fact Liberals say they will spend more on social programs than they actually do, they campaign like the NDP but then in power spend more like the Conservatives. But wee NEED to spend money when the economy needs it. We NEED social programs funded. (In my opinion)

But for me its compassion. I want to see safe injection sites, I want everyone treated like they are important, and I want to see a BETTER Canada where LBGTQ rights are respected, where being racist is BAD, and we have less division.

The Republican/Conservative playbook says "divide and conquer". The Conservatives don't say no to ANY opportunity to divide. Freedom Convoy, Israel, masking....these were all issues where the Conservatives didn't care about what was BEST, but where they could find division and exploit it. Just like Trump.

Israel and Palestine isn't a "good/evil" thing. None of you would have your houses taken and be ok with that. And none of you would say Israel should sit by when attacked. And no one thinks "you have a hostage? Lets just kill 50 other people and call that justified".

We need to say BOTH lives are EQUALLY as important. The problem is Conservatives/Republicans have made the argument that a Palestinian child is worth less than an Israeli child. They are BOTH worth saving. Equally.

And I think both parties think similarly about many issues. The problem is how they attack the issue.

Interesting content here.

Did not expect a debate on the Middle East on this forum.

I will say this:

I generally lean blue in Canada, however the punitive approach to crime and punishment by the conservatives does concern me. I agree with John on this one. Canada should lead by example and learn lessons from the more humane systems around the world.

People who are convicted for drugs, robbery and simple assaults and similar “low grade” crimes should be given an opportunity to be rehabilitated in a safe and supportive environment.

I cannot speak on behalf of John, but I seriously doubt he is suggesting that murderers or child molesters should be given light sentences and cut loose.

I have my own opinions on Israel and Gaza, which I will not share here as it is irrelevant to the main topic of this forum which is crime, punishment and getting into the USA legally.

Bottom line, I have no idea who I will vote for because neither party is offering anything that I really gravitate towards this time around.

The cons are offering a more fiscally responsible but punitive platform.
The liberals are offering a more progressive but financially irresponsible platform.
The NDP is irrelevant as always.

To end: if you are on this forum, the liberals will be a safer option for you- they are not interested in making criminal records public knowledge for every Tom, Dick & Harry.
The conservatives maybe pass legislation that is harmful and dangerous to people who have served their debt and moved on to a law abiding and prosperous life.

Tough decisions.

@Impartialplayer

So now take out Hamas and Put "Republicans".

We can now attack the US?

And we ALL know you are just changing profiles and making NEW comments. So go away so SERIOUS people can talk.

I see once again, no phone call. Notice I hide NOTHING. You are scared and anonymous.

A lot to unpack here and some interesting points on both sides, however, It appears John Rogers speaks from both sides of his mouth - not an unfamiliar tactic from a Liberal.

The Gazans democratically elected Hamas - a very well known terrorist group. In their physical charter they say “find the Jews and kill them” in one of their articles. Gazans knew exactly what they were doing when they elected Hamas. They wanted to reap however now they are sowing.

That plus the thousands of civilians dancing around the dead corpses of the Bibas babies during a funeral parade they held, leads most rational people to conclude there’s not much innocence there. If you vote in a terrorist group, well…. Play silly games and win silly prizes.

@J Rogers here’s a helpful tip on how not to get killed for holding hostages…. Maybe don’t take hostages in the first place???

@NoNewsforJ Vote for whoever you WANT.

Where is the proof I asked you for? Why haven't you called?

I never said Carney did ANYTHING outside of what local police are already doing.

We have hate crime laws on the books, for ANY hate, and we have in some jurisdictions (Toronto for example) stepped up surveillance for perceived/anticipated targets of anti-Semitism. Steps have been taken by the PROPER people to do it. You want Carney to PASS legislation targeting hate? Or just hate against Jews? You want a NEW law, that JUST makes it a crime to be hateful against ONE group or ANY group?

Poilievre is going to what? Make it illegal to THINK Israel is wrong? Because Trump is basically doing THAT at the border.

Now call me or shut up. I don't like cowards who LIE to make a point. I will respect TRUTHFUL points.

" https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/americas/artc-canada-s-antisemitism-crisis-gunshots-fired-at-toronto-school-synagogue-firebombed-in-montreal"

A Synagogue in Montreal WAS firebombed and a Jewish school had gunshots fired at it more than once. You could have referenced that but you had to LIE.

This is also true

Antisemitism in Canada
Antisemitism targets people who are or are perceived to be Jewish. Antisemitism continues to persist in Canada, manifesting itself in different ways: vandalism and graffiti, circulation of hate propaganda, intolerant and racist statements, bomb threats to Jewish schools and community centres, etc. Hate crimes against Jewish people increased by 71% between 2022 and 2023 for a total of 900 crimes reported to the police.

This is ALSO True, and TRUDEAU not Poilievre helped with this:

https://www.cija.ca/after_attacks_on_jewish_sites_government_of_canada_announces_national_forum_on_combatting_antisemitism

Ottawa, ON – December 20, 2024 – Today, the Government of Canada announced it is launching a National Forum on Combatting Antisemitism. The Forum will bring together key officials from all three levels of government, the judicial system, law enforcement, and representatives of the Jewish community to tackle these growing threats to Canadian society.

In response, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) called on leaders and authorities to seize the Forum as an opportunity to drive urgently needed change. CIJA warned that the Forum’s ultimate value will be determined only by the concrete results that come from it.

“In the past few days alone, a synagogue in Montreal was targeted for arson and a Jewish girls school in Toronto was struck by gunfire. These are just the latest examples of an escalating threat we're seeing across Canada. The safety of our community is under attack—and so too are the values and way of life that define us as Canadians,” said Richard Marceau, CIJA’s Vice President, External Affairs and General Counsel.

This is also true

https://www.cija.ca/jewish_community_victimized_in_70_percent_of_all_religion_motivated_hate_crimes_in_canada

70% of ALL hate crimes in Canada target Jewish groups

All of these are appalling. You can be PASSIONATE and NOT lie. I found these stats in seconds.

You see, people PAY me to be HONEST and accurate. You are taking a REAL issue, that is troubling and REAL, and then making the issue worse by making up fake statistics. 70% of all hate crimes targeting ANY one group is TERRIBLE. You don;t need to embellish it. Firebombing a Synagogue or shooting at a school is TERRIBLE, you don't need to lie.

I am STILL against someone being stopped at a border because of social media posts, UNLESS those posts are violent, or promoting violence or hate.

"Free Palestine" or "Israel are occupiers" or things that are POLITICAL statements are NOT something people should be attacked for, just like Jewish/Israeli people should not be targeted for THIER politics, or posts like "no peace until all hostages are released" or things like that.

Freedom means we are allowed to disagree. Trump is a NAZI. Just because he USES support of Israel as a TOOL, just like he supports Putin, does NOT make him less racist, it doesn't take away the fact he was convicted of 34 felonies, or that 25 women claim he RAPED them.

Last time. Israel has a right to exist and defend itself. People who live in Gaza have a right to exist and live in peace. Hamas is a terrorist organization. Do you understand?

Now that your lack of credibility has been established, CALL ME.

@J Rogers …..in all those words and paragraphs you glibly failed to answer the question, “what tangible steps has Mark Carney taken to combat the 670% rise in antisemitism?”

I told you I would vote liberal if you gave me any steps / plans whatsoever. You couldn’t name a single one!

Something has to be done about the crime and catch and release currently in this country.
It is obvious the Liberals have done absolutely nothing in the past ten years under Justin..
One just has to look at the GTA area. Car jackings, home invasions , murders and the daylight smash and grab robberies in malls. Yet to hear a plan from Carney.

@NoNewsforJ

My nieces school gets firebombed regularly in Toronto

giving Hamas 100 million dollars.

Please prove these 2 statements, that are OBVIOUSLY false.

I support Jewish people absolutely. Israel has a right to exist and thrive. Hamas, and all terrorists are wrong for targeting civilians.

But the response has led to MANY protests IN Israel as well as other places. If you are holding a hostage, you don;t get to kill a hundred others, or else you are no BETTER.

As for your ridiculous response. Its offensive and I VERY much doubt you would say these things to my face.

I HATE cowards who make up fake shit. I am willing to debate, and I have NOTHING against anyone who disagrees with me (many clients have different opinions) and you are taking a REAL issue (anti-Semitism is a REAL issue and very serious) and at the same time, be ok with CHILDREN who are not Jewish dying. NO kids dead, or detained is MY goal. Apparently you are passionate about SOME kids, but not others. Who is the racist here?

What Trump is doing is WRONG. You are supporting the NEW Nazi regime who in 1933-1936 deported thousands of people (many Jewish) and sadly the rest of the world sat and watched. NOT THIS TIME. Except now Israel is strong and its migrants from other place who need the world to stand up with them.

I don't support Nazis. Poilievre is NOT a Nazi but he is being CHEERED on by NAZIS. And I won't support "thought Police" who use PEACEFUL PROTEST as a tool to exclude others. That is what Trump is doing.

416-843-1371 Call me and lets meet in person. I will GUARANTEE you will be civil in person. I am more than willing to debate/talk with you.

whats that? No response Rogers? Surely someone so well versed in Canadian Crime, Racism and what defines antisemitism can give One Single Initiative Carney has announced or rolled out to combat the historic rise in Jew-hatred in this country. How about the NDP? Maybe them? I'll hang up and listen, thanks.

Antisemitism is up in Canada 670% year over year. It’s no longer safe for us here. My nieces school gets firebombed regularly in Toronto. Mark Carney has not mentioned Jews or antisemitism in any statement, once. Not once. In fact his very first order of business on being PM was giving Hamas 100 million dollars.

If you can explain what tangible steps Mark Carney will take to decrease rampant Antisemitism then I will vote Liberal.