AS weeks go, the last one was rainier than should be this time of year. But it was more interesting than most in a host of ways. In a blatanr display of where the attorney general’s priorities lie, he has decreed his office will appeal the deci sion by a New Westminster Justice of the Peace ruling photo radar is unconstitutional in the way it is applic enforced in this province. . _ Wasn’t it only last February when Ujjal Dosanjh played out the final card in the charade of Regina vs William Bennest? Bennest, the convicted pedophile who earned his daily crust as an elementary school principal, waltzed through the criminal justice system last October with barely a blemish on his-record and a minor stinging on his wrists. The resulting outcry forced the apparently unwilling AG to announce an appeai of the sen- tence given to Bennest. ‘The sentence, mind you, nota review of how the whoie dis- gusting situation canie about. But just two weeks later, as the Director of Criminal Appeals, Bob Wright, was dili- gently writing and researching the legal brief for the appeal, Dosanjh appointed former Supreme Court Justice Josiah Wood to review and report to him on the chances of success for such an appeal. Wood reported back ta the AG on Feb. 12 in a 400-word letter dismissing all the-hard work and lengthy arguments presented by Wright. __ No reasons. No analysis. None of that trite legal stuff, just a simple few phrases say- maitibox ce nt a RI ht crime and punishment ing, “sorry, it won't work.” With that, Dosanjh stopped the appeal in its tracks. The question hung in che ike a dirigible. Why not simply fet the courts decide on the appeal? Why indeed? The issue of an elementary school principal messing around with | 2-year- old boys under his care is one that offended even the most jaded watchers of the justice system. That case came to the attention of Doug Stead. A man who had afready frustration of a justice s unwilling co prosecute another individual who had been accused of interfering with young children. In that case, it was a family member of Stead's who was allegeely vic- timized by Dr. John Gossage, then a New Westminster pedi- atrician. Stead battled, screamed and protested to no avail with an uncaring system. 1D dozens of complaints from a variety of victims, Gossage was never charged criminally. But he was found guilty of profes- sional misconduct by the College of Physicians and Surgeons. Stead was left frustrated, angry and wanting vengeance. Along came a photo radar ticket in the mail and Stead got his chance to stick it in the eve of the attorney general, the office who denied justice to Stead and his family. He fought the photo radar ticket and had the method of delivering tickets declared unconstitutional. He used the system that protected an alleged pedophile to protect all of us from the dirty, money grubbing hands of the NDP. How did Dosanjh respond? Appeal that decision, he ordered, Not now, but right now. Did he lure a former Supreme Court Justice to view the chances of a suc- cessful appeal? Hardly, Marge! Damn the torpedoes and tull speed ahead with the appeal So, let me see if F have this right. A homosexual pedophile is the principal of an clemen- tary school and has designs on av-old male student. He takes pictures of that boy and superinposes the images of another underage male prostitute cngaged in s with the principal, along with the student. He is ultimately charged with a number of crimes involving sex and children — young bo’ fet, hig s let off ina plea bargain arrangement and sees : day in jail. No public retribution for his disgraceful and disgusting acts. Nothing for his outragcous breach of Oe a eo i werrantyy approved trust, But the AG ensures no appeal is ever funched despite the public demand for justice. He hides behind the innocuous and specious Wood report, bur the truth is he demonstrated no apparent stomach tor the appeal. What, pray tell me, could he have been atraid of? Now fast forward to Stead’s photo radar case. Dosanjh and the rest of his morally-chalenged gavern- ment is faced with the loss of a projected $100 million in rev- enue trom the blatant money grab which is photo radar, and it’s all hands to the pumps in mounting the appeal. Doug Stead is revelling in the situation he has foun himself in. He is a successtul businessman with his hi-tech firm Tri-Mi Systems in Coquitlam. He can certainly afford the $172 speeding tick- ct. But he’s in this for the long haul. The little guy is tighting the system and if there’s a God in heaven, he'll bring the NDP to it: knees. Here’s a quick message to Gordon Campbell and his Jess than effective opposition: eet on this bandwagon quick. Stead has asked me to pass on this offer for the reader. If anyone has any information that could fead to the arrest aor, 21 pt. Safety check, 15 minutes - FAST! i _ : i i sd sentose Olli, Lube & Fitter i includes up to 5 Iitres of 1 OwW30 Quakerstate ! 1 4362 Marine Drive 980-9n5 Mon-Sat 8:00am-6:00prmn, Sun. 9:00am-5:00pm Expires Ady 31.98] eerie Mic etter fen tenis? emanate erence antareregile Wednesday, July 22, 1998 — North Shore News — 7 Citizen fights to right system’s wrongs and conviction of a politician, doctor, lawyer or judge on Aarges of pedophilia, he'll personally give a cheque for $10,000 te the whistleblenver ‘fen thousand bucks te out akiddie diddler. Not bad. 1 will personally guarantee absolute conndentiality to any- one who comes to me with information. My email address est bon hulp Ne es fy © Homeowners. —. ° Travel is listed below or call me at the North Shore News. Doug Stead’s email is dstead@dowco.com It's time these leeches were shown up for whar they are. Are you listening Premier , P . jh. The little guy is get- ting mad. — lknight@direct.ca s Defieux-Saxelby Insurance Services Inc. CALL TODAY | o ~ Ov cba ved Seis ice On ty be Northstar > ri 105-200 West Esplanade North Vancouver (Located beneath Famous Players Theatre) ver Mainland since 1971 SS Why base benefits on sexual activity? Dear Editor: The recent decision by the provincial government to extend employment ben- efits to same sex partners raises some puz- zling issues. . Asa father sharing the same home as my adult son, would benefits under the proposed legislation he extended to my son?-And if not, why not? Must we engage in an incestuous homosexual rela- tionship for him to qualify. ; ’ Also, would my daughter, who is liv- ing away from home attending university and sharing 2 house with two other girls, have to become a lesbian to collect on her friend’s dental plan? And if so, what about the third girl? Do threesomes - count? . If, as it would appear, sexual activity _rather than sexual orientation is the pre- fae All wheel crive ABS y Air Bags ; @ 80 watt AM/FM cassefie B Sport Rack 5 Fog Lamps 165 H.P. engine Power windows & locks Power heated mirrors 1235 M SPECI requisite to qualify for benefits, the ques- tion becomes even more bewildering. What about my aged parents? After producing three children, they can sub- stantiate that they used to be sexually active. But now, due to illness, 1 suspect they may not qualify under che apparent rules, This would not scerr. quite fair. It may also be necessary to define what constitutes sexual activity. Is penc- tration required or would oral sex suffice? What about mere kissing or snug- giing? Also, how often must we engage to qualify? Once a day, once a week or once a month? And must we prove the type and frequency of sexual activity to sub- stantate a claim? Would a headache dis- qualify your spouse? Could duplicate claim payments slip through from those Ss “ an as" : we ALTY SUI who have affairs. The implications arc mind-boggling. Reporting would become extremely arduous. The question of same sex benefits seems to focus on gay rights, when per- haps the question should be why any per- son, whether homosexual or heterosex al, should qualify based on sexual activity rather than need. Fiowever, as both a taxpayer and a consumer, I would only like somcone to explain to me why those who indulge in sex may be more deserving of subsidized benefits than those who are celibate. I could then continue to pay higher taxes and prices content in the knowledge that | was supporting a cause in the national interest. Robert Garland North Vancouver LY SUBARU 1998 FORESTER From 05 +P.D1I., freight & taxes M.S.RP. ae arine Dr., North Vancouver 980-2464 SARU age y oft PAY‘AS YOU GOii 5 a PAY AS YOU GO! Call today to setup your first visit and free fitness evaluation! & 1.08 VM eG me hee om Mn lle OFF FOR |: YOURSELF || Lo smed om Bh GUS GN SN Se ‘Mast he 19 years of elder, Otier good at chub of enratimens .