We Must Avoid Another Whitmore Dilemma

People all across this nation felt a collective shudder of contempt after reading the details of the crimes committed by Peter Whitmore. The case proves a number of points very clearly. First, it proves there is still evil in the world, and small town Saskatchewan is not immune from the harm this evil can cause. The second lesson from the Whitmore case is that Canada’s judicial system has a long way to go when it comes to protecting the public from habitual sex offenders.

The third lesson this case drives home is that Canada’s dangerous offender legislation is still seriously flawed. The case ended with the judicial system failing to declare Whitmore a dangerous offender. Most Canadians would agree that if the label doesn’t apply to Whitmore and his reprehensible crimes, it effectively applies to no one.

Most of the media coverage to date has chosen to ignore this flaw, concentrating instead on the laudable and commendable goal of sparing these young victims the ordeal and trauma of a criminal trial. What’s also being ignored is a solution to this very problem, languishing in limbo in a committee of the House of Commons.

Bill C-27 would have made it far easier for Crown Prosecutors to have Peter Whitmore labelled a dangerous offender. And it would have avoided placing these well meaning public servants in an impossible position: having to choose between a dangerous offender designation for Whitmore or forcing the victims to testify.

If passed into law, this bill would force those convicted of a third violent crime or sex offence to prove why they should not be classified as a dangerous offender.

Extreme cases like Mr. Whitmore’s often don’t make for good law. However, Bill C-27 seems like a measured, effective response to the facts as outlined.

Saskatchewan people need to urge politicians, federal and provincial, to support speedy passage of Bill C-27.

Past Legislative Reports