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Clinton News Record, 2016-09-14, Page 5Wednesday, September 14, 2016 • News Record 5 PM's false equivalence on rights in China The gulf between Canada and China on human rights is vast. This isn't something that normally needs pointing out, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, insisting he put the boots to the Chinese govern- ment over rights during his visit, seems confused. Trudeau says he raised the issue in the context of indige- nous rights at home, noting that Canada had been publicly criti- cized by a UN rapporteur for the state of our aboriginal pop- ulation. "(I) talked about the challenges, but also talked about the fact that Canada is not immune to criticisms on human rights, either;' he told an interviewer in Hong Kong. Such exercises in moral equivalence are dangerous, and inaccurate. China "systematically curtails a wide range of fundamental human rights, including free- dom of expression, association, assembly, and religion," says Human Rights Watch. It also bans peaceful groups such as OPP UPDATES OPP Community Satisfaction Survey: 98 per cent feel very safe (ORILLIA, ON) — The 2016 Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Community Satisfaction Survey results are now available and reveal that more than 98 per cent of respondents feel 'very safe' or 'safe' in their commu- nities. Ninety-six per cent feel 'very satisfied' or 'satisfied' with the overall quality of ser- vices provided by the OPP. Earlier this year, 1,000 citizens from across the province were randomly selected and asked to participate in a survey to meas- ure public opinion about the services delivered by the OPP. The full results of the 2016 sur- vey are available, in English and French, on the OPP website at www.opp.ca. Those who participated in the survey were asked about issues such as highway safety, traf- fic enforcement, contact with the OPP, service delivery and even how the OPP investigates crime. The survey is conducted annu- ally to measure public opinion in communities throughout the province. The information col - Falun Gong, and uses the death penalty extensively while keep- ing official numbers quiet, according to Amnesty International. Meanwhile, is Canada struggling over the plight of its indigenous people? Yes, obvi- ously. But here is the differ- ence: Having acknowledged a host of historical wrongs, Canadian governments have taken tangible steps to fix things. The Conservatives launched the Truth and Rec- onciliation Commission after apologizing formally for the abuses of the Indian residen- tial school system. The Liber- als committed to the TRC's recommendations and kicked off an inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women. Serious problems of poverty, isolation and social discrimination loom, but abo- riginal Canadians enjoy the same rights to free speech, association and religious free- doms as other Canadians. Trudeau has been lected is useful in helping the OPP set out goals and objec- tives to improve on the services it delivers to all Ontario commu- nities. The information was collected by a research consultant, R.A. Malatest & Associates Ltd., which was retained by the Min- istry of Community Safety and Correctional Services. The infor- mation is treated confidentially and the names, telephone num- bers, and addresses of those surveyed are not included in the results provided to the OPP. The next provincial survey is scheduled to begin in January 2017. OPP REPORT DEADLIEST LABOUR DAY WEEKEND IN 20 YEARS Close to 800 Distracted Driving Charges Laid in Campaign (HURON COUNTY, ON) — While the data is preliminary, the OPP is reporting 12 road fatalities, one marine fatality and one off-road vehicle death over the long weekend, mark- ing the deadliest Labour Day Long Weekend in OPP-patrolled jurisdictions in 20 years. Tragically, one of the fatal inci- intellectually sloppy in the past over China. You'll recall from 2013: "There's a level of admira- tion I actually have for China. Their basic dictatorship is actu- ally allowing them to turn their economy around on a dime." He was forced to clarify himself He's not doing much better now. Contrast Trudeau's rhetorical dancing with the words of Can- ada's an- adas outgoing ambassador to China, Guy Saint -Jacques, who pointed out China has gone backwards on human rights in recent years. Canada needs to engage with China; we all understand that. And there are many ways to subtly pressure a dictatorship for action on human rights. But moral equivalence isn't one of them. Trudeau missed an opportunity to deal straightfor- wardly with China. Whatever else he gained, he loses points for not distinguishing between taking responsibility, and deny- ing the need to. - Postmedia Network Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) shakes hands with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to the G20 Summit on September 4, 2016 in Hangzhou, China. World leaders are gathering in Hangzhou for the 11th G20 Leaders Summit from September 4 to 5. dents involved a single -vehicle crash in Northwestern Ontario that took the lives of four of the vehicle occupants. The OPP also conducted a robust Distracted Driving Cam- paign over the long week- end. Ahead of the campaign, the OPP issued a province - wide News Release and main- tained a steady flow of mes- saging on its provincial and regional social media platforms, calling on all road users, partic- ularly passengers, to become part of the solution in reduc- ing the significant number of distracted driving -related road deaths that occur every year. In spite of these efforts, the OPP File photo laid close to 800 distracted/ inattentive driving charges against drivers who jeopard- ized the safety of innocent men, women and children who took to the roads to enjoy the last summer long weekend before the start of a new school year. Huron County drivers took heed the message on the dangers of Distracted Driving however the message to Slow Down didn't register with numerous drivers. A look at the charges laid over the long -weekend by Huron OPP: • Distracted Driving Charges —1 • Seatbelt Charges — 4 • Speeding Charges —127 • Racing Charges — 4 • Marine Offences — 6 • Alcohol Warn Range Suspen- sions — 3 • Impaired Driving Charges - 0 While the OPP conducts focused enforcement cam- paigns every year, officers enforce distracted driving and other traffic laws 365 days a year. This latest campaign brings the total number of dis- tracted driving charges laid to date this year to over 8,800. DRAMATIC CRASH SHUTS DOWN HAYFIELD ROAD (GODERICH, ON) - Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers responded to a single motor vehicle collision that took place on September 7 in Goderich. Just before 11:30 p.m. Huron OPP, Huron County Para- medic Services and Goder- ich Fire Department mem- bers responded to the crash scene located on Bayfield Road between Bennett Street East and Blake Street East. Upon arrival, emergency per- sonnel located a completely destroyed Chrysler Sebring and two injured males. The driver of the vehicle managed to free himself from the wreck how- ever his passenger had to be extricated from the vehicle. The vehicle was travelling northbound on Bayfield Road when the driver lost control of his vehicle and struck a hydro pole located on the east side of the road. The out of control vehicle then continued north- bound off the roadway where- upon it struck the raised portion of a driveway. The vehicle went airborne and came to rest land- ing on its roof on the front lawn of a Bayfield Road residence. The 22 -year-old male driver, Jesse THURLOW-WHITE, from Central Huron was admitted to hospital with non -life threaten- ing injuries. His passenger, 24 -year-old Gentry BOYCE from Goderich was also sent to hospital. His injuries were considered seri- ous but non -life threatening. OPP West Region Technical Traffic Collision Investigators (TTCI) along with OPP Foren- sic Identification Services (FIS) attended the crash scene to help with the collision investi- gation. The crash remains under inves- tigation; however excessive speed and alcohol are believed to be factors. Any person with information regarding this collision should immediately contact Huron County OPP at 1-888-310- 1122 or 519-524-8314.