The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutTimes Advocate, 1998-11-18, Page 6Ir Exeter Times—Advocate Wednesday, November 18. 1998 Editorial&Opiniofl TIMES -ADVOCATE, PUBLICATIONS ?dA)I. IU::( ; 1 ItA'I IUB Nl!RtUHH n::, Jim Beckett Publisher mid Editor Don Smith General. Manager , Production Manager Deb Lord Piti)lished by J.W. Hedy Publications Limited 424 Main Street South. P.O. Box 850 EXeter. (Int/trio NOM 1S6 , (519) 235-1331 . EDITORIAL This is not about politics, it is about justice • Jissi..ssaugu real estate agent Wendy Carroll had herr throat slashed and, was left for dead - by two paroled multiple murderers. It should never have happened, and under proposed federal legislation. the like- lihood of at similar crinu• occurring could be substantially less. • • The thmst of Commutes has recently voted 81 to three in favor of u Private Member's Bill to end concurrent sentenr- -- nig for sexual predators and multiple murderers. • On Dec. 1. Private Members' 13111 C-251 goes le lore the• House of Commons Standing Contrnittee on .lil;stice. and • atter that will return to the House for final reuding The bill•was presented by Albino Guuruieri. MP. • (Mississauga East. She etas been working mi the. nutter for seven years. this is the third time she• .Mus intrudneed the_ • Bill. lithe, bill I(uees through. those people convicted iil'•raiping or Murdering Wulf lipie victims will find themselves receiv- ing a consecutive sentence' instead a cutlllt(rreitt one- what Guarnieri ha,, described us a "voitime discount . • Sophie Nadeau. legislative assistant lin' Guarnieri. •• explains that it lot of people thank• u lilt sentence means It does•uut "life means a 55 -year jail se:metier and eligible ler parole u [5 . Nada:alt said- tinder the present system. a multiple-nntrderer is sentenced for ane victim. and the rest are "free''. in that -the "cuucurreat" sentences are served u.i The same time. •. Judge;; have the option of giving consecutive sentences - •- su maoyycars io jail added unto a previous Sentence - tial • by custom do net. All tau often. the result is.miirderers and rapists who get released front jail before they should be - and who go on lu rape and murder again. Ili a briefing on • the bill. an' official (•runt Corrections reported 73 per cent of these predators ge on to reollend. Consecutive. sentencing would result iti lunger st:ntences. protecting society . and Salving families of victims from truing through parole In arittgs • . Nadeau said there has been sall' resistance to Kill C- '251 . .:-251. Soule people Say it is about revenge, not justice: that it would Americanize' our justice system. Regarding tie. termer. Guarnieri states it is about pro- portional sentencing. about appropriate, suntent:ing. "We •seek to restore truth in sentencing. by requiring [hat conser.- ulive sentences and consecutive periods of parole ineligibili- ty be served in respect of ouch victim ihtpacied by a sexual predator to Multiple murderer." •As to the second, nationalism should not stand in the way of justice. nor should politic~. Members front all five federal. parties have joined tugetb- - • er in a nidi -partisan effort to end what Guarnieri describes as "one of the most glaring injustices in our sentencing sys- tem". People interested in seeing this legislation go through should contact their local Mr Letters of support for Bill C-251 can be sent to Albino . (ivarnieri's office: 450 Cunlederation Building. 11ouse'ut• Comm�,os. Ottawa. Ontario. K IA 0A6 (tit.\: 613-994.0420i or email guarna(tparl.gr.ca). Guaruieri's office will lor- •wart)•-letteers to the appropriate people. '('here is also a peti- tion being Circulated: anyuue requiring more information should a tll.(ivarnieri`s office. 613-996-042(1. reprinted Irani Saugee:n City News About the Times -Advocate Address -fit Office Hours - I'inys Advoc 1 e. 424 Main SU'eet South; 1'.(1 Bax 8511. Exute:l . Onlau'er NU1�1 156 Ow'utikt es opeeii Monday to Friday'. 8-3t) aur ter 5:00 put Contact Us By Phone or Fax Classified ad tv subscription sales • • 24-hour automated ,iiteo(lant Fat. nuiiiber fur. all departments Subscription Rates One year rate for addresses iii (:anaidi•. Two year rate fur addresses in (:ana(la- Une year rate for addresses outside Canada Call (519)235-1331 to order a sitt►se;ription (5191 (5191 (519e 235-133 t 235-1336 235-0:66 . $35+GST $102 • Relax:There's lots of time til Christmas • You know what bugs' ine? - People who are already stressed out about Christmas. People .who. say, ".Oh no. there are Only six weeks till Christnttas." Lighten up and enjoy it'. • - If you're a person who enjoys Christmas, my advice is to. start your preparations now.. if not. take it easy: Sit down and enjoy an.egg nog. I• t seems everyone'S. trying to get the jump on each "other with their craft shows acrd bake sales. 11' I buy gifts too early 1 just forget about theta and end up buying twice as much. (this year, the gifts are hidden in the. closet where 1 keep the food processor which 1'(1 use to make Christrnas pudding. Remind ate around Dec. 20. ) I'm not a scrooge. 1'nt just not a shopper. -1 c4un't browse, 1 buy'. - • 1 do my Christmas shopping with purpose and deter- mination (the sauce way 1 drive a car). • 1 ani focused. 1 know what 1 want and 1 know .where to fund it. And if don't turd it, I'll buy something else. It turns out OK. 1 don't mind spending money on good quality items for my friends and fancily. (yly gifts full into two cateegor•ies. Things that will last a lifetime and become family heirloouts. (hardcover books, anything • wood) or things that they'll really -enjoy and use (choco-' late, magazine subscriptions, more chocolate). The reason -I can relax and delay shopping until the - last minute. is because 1.don't make. the 'gifts thyself. I'm not a knitter and you'll never get "a handcrafted item (tutu Me. The closest 1 get is painting or varnish- ing unfinished furniture. - - r One Christmas. 1 deeded .to make gifts. 1 went to a Craft store and wandered around until 1 -collected a basket full of those things. 1 don't even .know what you call them but my sister can glue them together tv make amazing ornaments, ' wall hangings or table decorations.' 7'he box is still in my attic and I'll'sell them to you fur a remarkable price. - ' I can make 'photographs, words and fudge. People really aren't clamouring to receive •words for Christ las even if they are in the fors) of my witty yet sentimental :cards. I'm the .one that's helping the economy by buying all those value -added -products • so whilel'm not much ofa.consumer dur- ing the rest of the year, 1 support the economy at Christmas. . Back to those of you who are stressed out. When you look at the list of things you have to do, weigh the e'.onsequences of nut doing some of the things. Would it kill you -to not be Martha Stewart ler one year'? Would people be disappointed if you bought them a sweater instead -of knittu)g-it? I'm not suggest- ing you 'serve pizza fur Christmas dinner but 1 think there's room for compromise. - Chill out and enjoy the season. • . I''d like to add my personal congratulations to 'fed Jones: Exeter's Citizen of the Year. 1 met "fed when 1 moved Isere in '85 and lead an office across the hall from .1iim at the ARCA. 1 know how much he Ceres about Exeter and the conununity. Congratulations Ted!' KATE MONK KATE'S TAKES Aka Classified Rates • Word ads $9.O0. for 20 words. 151 for each additional wurd-i (,S'(' Notices (births. deaths. announcteo►ents, coninig events. .rneinuri t111S. cards of thank:)- $11.00 d (iti117 forup to 30 wards. 15e for each .additional word. All ads must be .pile -paid. 'fhe 'classified ad deadlute_is Mo(I(lay at -I0 a.m. • Display Advertising • fu.plau;e a display ad. (5 19 235-1 33 1 weetekdays 8:30 to 5 .. I: or evenings (519)- 235-1336 (leave massage) • or toll --free at -1-888-270-.1002 -Deadlie. Friday 4 p.in E-mail Us - fA a -trail addresses consist of the parson's first initial and last name followed by @'ta.ecdy'.conr. For examplq, Jun Be ektett's e-mail address is <,{beckeUCata.tu dy.curn> Ourgeneral e: -mail address is editwtwSoutltHurutt.cutn ,. , • The Times -Advocate Team • Publisher 8 Editor JO Beckett :. General Manager Produtuon.Manager Advertising Reporters Customer Service Produtuon Staff Accounting Staff 1).on Smith Deb Lund Barb (.uusiti Craig Bradford Kate Munk ' Scott Nixon Sue. Kullirlga Carol Windsor ext. ext ext ext e•xl. ext_ ext ext e•xt 109 112 114 110 113 107 105 11)1 11,:? Alma Ballantyne, tirouda Fern. Laurel Kiwi:Mary McMurray. Barb Robertson, Joyce Weber Cassie Dalrymple, Anita McDonald. Ruthenia.. Negrijn. Huth Slaght