People in India are sick of India because of the corruption, lack of safe living, pollution, murders, rapes, etc. etc. many think that coming to Canada will relieve them of all that.

This thread is being created only to make them aware what goes on in Canada - is no different from India, just on different scales and different styles. The purpose of this thread is just to educate those sitting in India that what they do not hear is not necessarily not happening in Canada - NOT to say that Canada is bad! I will try to put new reports which can make them aware of life in Canada.

Here is my first reproduction of the article in today's Toronto Star:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Walkerton families suffer still
Deride compensation `paper chase'
McGuinty predicts changes near
ROBERTA AVERY
IN WALKERTON
(The Toronto Star – Feb 26, 2004)

WALKERTON—Four years after Edith Pearson and Lenore Al died from drinking this town's tainted water, their families say the province's compensation plan has provided only further pain and suffering.
Calling the process dehumanizing and insulting, the two families say they've been further victimized by a relentless paper chase.
"When the compensation plan was announced we were promised that it would be an easy process, but the truth is that it's been a horrible experience that's made the death of our mother so much harder to bear," said Bonnie Pearson.
There has been a gruelling demand for more and more paperwork "to prove how she died and that we exist," she said.
"It's insulting when her death and how she died are a matter of public record."
Walkerton's contaminated drinking water killed seven people in May, 2000 and sickened thousands.
Brian Barrie, a lawyer representing the Al and Pearson families, is armed with folders 20 centimetres thick on each claim. He said his requests for his clients to meet the plan's administrators have fallen on deaf ears.
"They've turned human agony into a chart," said Barrie.
Apart from the basic $2,000 compensation received by all Walkerton residents and a recent offer to settle the water disruption claims, all his clients have received so far are requests for more and more paperwork, Barrie said.
"The message is that we'll get to you when we're ready."
Premier Dalton McGuinty said yesterday he's concerned about the slow pace of the payouts, but hopes to see an improvement now that government lawyers and claimants have met with Justice Warren Winkler, who oversees the plan's administration.
"That plan operates completely independent of the government," McGuinty told reporters. "It was set up that way by the people of Walkerton, but we have heard some concerns about the length of time it's taking to get awards, and there is obviously some misunderstanding with respect to their rights.
"We believe the judge will be shortly making an announcement with respect to ways he is going to enhance the plan," he said.
Some 10,000 people affected by Walkerton's tainted water have applied for compensation through Crawford Adjustors Canada, the firm appointed by the court to administer the plan, but only 4,600 claims have so far been settled.
An estimated $46 million has been paid out.
Walkerton residents point to a number of problems with the plan, including Crawford's assessment of who should and shouldn't get compensation. And they claim lawyers are only taking on the easy cases because they get a maximum of $750 per case under rules set out in the compensation deal.
Bruce Davidson, of Concerned Walkerton Citizens, said there have been many complaints that Crawford Adjustors is completely arbitrary in its awarding of compensation.
"People complain that in many cases they have virtually arbitrarily denied claims that have been put in, suggesting that either the illnesses are not related to the water or are minor in nature," he said.
Kim Chalmers, manager of Crawford's Walkerton office, said applications for compensation are assessed individually to determine entitlement.
"It really is dependent upon the manner in which their application is submitted to us and the documentation or evidence they provide to help support the claim," she said yesterday.
Edith Pearson, a mother of five who had been in good health before the outbreak, died on May 24, 2000 in London, her bowel perforated by the E. coli O1577 toxins. She was 83.
Fred, her husband of 60 years, died last November without having received a penny of compensation for his loss.
"He never came to terms with her death and could never understand why no one came to apologize to him," said daughter Bonnie.
"He died with no satisfaction of closure."
Bonnie Pearson was so distraught about how the plan was failing her family that she went to tell former premier Mike Harris personally on Jan. 18, 2002. That was the day Harris came to Walkerton, as Justice Dennis O'Connor released the first part of his report on his inquiry into the tragedy.
"I told him it was horrible for us. He promised to make changes, to take care of us, but nothing changed," she said.
John Al didn't meet with Harris that day.
"I was insulted because I was told that I had to go to the town hall to see him, he should have come to see me," said Al, who is still distraught about the death of his wife of 46 years, due to E. coli poisoning on May 22, 2000.
"You believe these people when they say we'll be a special focus, but four years later we're still waiting," he said.
"How long does this go on? It's dehumanizing."
Lenore Al, a retired library worker, was 63 when she died
----------------------------------------------------------------
No comments - just an effort to make the intending immigrant aware of the glittering west!

-----------------------------------------------------------------
If we can unite, we can be the greatest!

Officer charged in brothel operation
York implicates 23-year veteran
Newmarket house is alleged site
LESLIE FERENC AND TONY VAN ALPHEN
STAFF REPORTERS
(The Toronto Star – Feb 26, 2004)

York Region police have charged a 23-year veteran officer and his long-time girlfriend with running a brothel in Newmarket.
Police announced yesterday that Sergeant Robert Penman, 52, of Newmarket, faces a charge of keeping a common bawdy house, two counts of procuring for the purpose of prostitution and breach of trust.
Police also charged Yvonne Regner, 35, with keeping a common bawdy house.
One police source said Regner was his girlfriend and that they lived across from each other on a street called On Bogart Circle, where they also allegedly kept the bawdy house.
York police Chief Armand La Barge noted that charges follow on the heels of a "thorough investigation" by the force's professional standards branch.
"We take the allegations of misconduct by police officers very seriously," La Barge said.
The chief said he knew the veteran officer personally, referring to him as a "longstanding member of the organization and a good member."
La Barge said the standards branch began investigating last September, after tips from "a number of sources," including "internal information."
The chief wouldn't say whether York police had gone undercover as part of the investigation of their colleague.
"This is before the courts; I can't go into details," he said.
As part of the investigation, police executed a search warrant at Penman's house late last year. The warrant and other documents in the case have been sealed by the court.
Penman, a divorced father of four, was suspended with pay Dec. 30. At the time of his suspension, he was working at 2 District and had about 30 officers under his command.
Charges are anticipated against Penman under the Police Services Act, according to a news release.
"It's extremely disappointing," the chief said of yesterday's arrest, emphasizing that this was an "isolated event.''
"Undoubtedly, this will have an impact collectively on the organization," he said.
"It can't help but have an impact when one of your own is charged with a criminal offence."
Penman and Regner are to appear in Newmarket court on April 7.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
If we can unite, we can be the greatest!

We always say Indian Jails are worst.. how about Canada.. read the following article, it is an eye opener.
Thanks and regards.
Biomed

***********************************
Feb. 27, 2004. 01:00 AM


Meffe `made to lick spit off floor': Inmate
Teen's parents horrified as abuse described at inquest

Suicidal boy teased, made to eat from toilet, former jailmates sa


HAROLD LEVY
STAFF REPORTER

An inquest jury heard horrifying descriptions yesterday of the abuse to which 16-year-old David Meffe was subjected in the days before he hanged himself at the Toronto Youth Assessment Centre while under a suicide watch.

Five fellow inmates described conditions in interviews that were read in court yesterday.

"Made to lick spit off floor in paddy wagon," said one, referred to as Youth A.

"He was made to eat s--- out of the toilet. He was bullied, " said another, referred to as Youth C.

Meffe's parents, Filippa and Tony, appeared devastated as youth advocates read out statements that were collected by representatives of the Ontario Child Advocate office as part of their probe of the centre, which opened in 1998 to hold 16- and 17-year-olds awaiting trial.

Dr. David Evans, the presiding coroner, allowed the statements into evidence yesterday, over the objections of government lawyers, because "they speak to the circumstances of abuse that David may have been exposed to at the time of his death."

Evans said that although the statements were hearsay, and the youths could not be cross-examined on them in court, the jurors would be able to determine the weight they wished to attach to them.

"Staff kept bugging him because he was overweight," said Youth A. "Other guys saying, `He's a bitch,' (a term used for an inmate who can be made to perform services for other inmates.)"

The youth, who had been promised anonymity by the Child Advocate's office, described Meffe, who had a long history of mental illness and had never been in an adult type jail before, as "upset about a lot of stuff, crying all the time. He looked scared more than anything."

"(He) told judge if judge sentenced him he would kill himself," the statement said.

Meffe was on medication for depression and psychosis when his desperate parents surrendered him to police on Sept. 22, 2002 — on charges of stealing cheques from family members — in an act of tough love after years of trying to deal with his behavioural problems .

Youth C suggested in his statement that Meffe could not handle the centre's violent culture.

"The government doesn't make any sense. Jails aren't helping. Kids can't do the time. It's not helping," he told the advocate.

"He was made to eat s--- out of the toilet. He was bullied."

Youth B said Meffe hanged himself "because of teasing." A fourth youth said: "(The) guy hanged himself because of stress of living here."

The fifth said: "(The) youth didn't appear to be on suicide watch."

The jury has heard evidence that shortly after he arrived at the jail on Sept. 23, 2002, through an unexplained error, he was taken off of a suicide watch and put in the general population where he remained for a short while until the error was discovered.

In response to questions put to them by Dennis Brown, a lawyer who represents the Ministry of Corrections, the advocates who took the statements said that even though Meffe had not been specifically named in the statements, they were satisfied that the youths had been referring to him.

The Child Advocate's office acts as a "voice" for youth and is also charged with protecting the rights of young people behind bars.

The inquest continues this morning in Coroner's Court.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Change before you have to" : Jack Welch

Any prison stories would pale in comparision to what comes out of US prisons. Anyone seen OZ(showcase) lately?

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Recommended Services- Servicedomino.com
http://www.servicedomino.com

OZ makes me want to be a better person!

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Are you there?

I hear its a sanitized version of the real thing. I wish it was mandatory viewing for the wannabe gangbangers out there

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Recommended Services- Servicedomino.com
http://www.servicedomino.com

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1078097705877&call_pageid=968332188492" target="_blank">http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1078097705877&call_pageid=968332188492

-----------------------------------------------------------------
If we can unite, we can be the greatest!