Close X
Friday, November 8, 2024
ADVT 
National

Feds Seek 3-Month Delay To Reassess Court Challenge Of RCMP Gun Data Destruction

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 04 Dec, 2015 12:25 PM
  • Feds Seek 3-Month Delay To Reassess Court Challenge Of RCMP Gun Data Destruction
OTTAWA — The constitutional challenge to a Conservative law that retroactively cleared the RCMP for destroying gun registry data has been put on hold while the new Liberal government reassesses its options.
 
The attorney general of Canada requested a three-month delay in the case, according to the office of federal information commissioner Suzanne Legault, in order to "consider its position in these proceedings."
 
Legault and the individual involved in the case, Bill Clennett, agreed to the postponement.
 
At issue is a highly controversial move by the former Conservative government last spring to retroactively rewrite a 2012 law after Legault recommended charges be laid against the Mounties for withholding and destroying gun registry data.
 
The Harper government reacted to Legault's special report to Parliament by creating a backdated loophole that removed any criminal liability for the RCMP actions. Moreover, it used its May omnibus budget bill to effectively turn back the clock to October 2011, altering the provisions of the 2012 Ending the Long-gun Registry Act and then having that old bill come into force months before it was even passed by Parliament.
 
The information commissioner called the Conservative move a "perilous precedent" that could be used by future governments to retroactively rewrite laws on everything from spending scandals to electoral fraud.
 
The Ontario Provincial Police, which had begun an investigation of the RCMP's actions following a referral from the public prosecutors office, dropped the case as a result of the Conservative legal rewrite.
 
Access-to-information experts said the unprecedented government move cleared the path for the destruction of documents and legislated cover-ups.
 
Last month, Canada's provincial information commissioners sought intervener status in the constitutional challenge at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice — a measure of the widespread unease wit

MORE National ARTICLES

Feds Reject Air Canada's Request To See Security Threat Assessments

The air carrier has expressed concern to the federal government about accommodating sky marshals on its flights, often at significant cost.

Feds Reject Air Canada's Request To See Security Threat Assessments

Remote B.C. Community Frets Over Cut Lifeline As Plug Pulled On Internet

Remote B.C. Community Frets Over Cut Lifeline As Plug Pulled On Internet
District of Stewart, the non-profit provider pulled the plug on the Internet on Monday, and it could be weeks before the community gets back online

Remote B.C. Community Frets Over Cut Lifeline As Plug Pulled On Internet

Richmond Predator Martin Tremblay Declared Dangerous Offender, Given Indeterminate Prison Sentence

Richmond Predator Martin Tremblay Declared Dangerous Offender, Given Indeterminate Prison Sentence
Friends and family of 17-year-old Martha Jackson and 16-year-old Kayla Lalonde cried and cheered as a B.C. Supreme Court judge handed down his decision

Richmond Predator Martin Tremblay Declared Dangerous Offender, Given Indeterminate Prison Sentence

Ontario University Hockey Team Changes It's Offensive Name, Destroys Jerseys After Complaint

Ontario University Hockey Team Changes It's Offensive Name, Destroys Jerseys After Complaint
The co-ed team of law students at Western University was called Dixon Cider — a name that the dean of the university's faculty of law says isn't immediately clear that it's offensive until it is spoken aloud

Ontario University Hockey Team Changes It's Offensive Name, Destroys Jerseys After Complaint

Suspect In Alberta Triple Homicide Shot By RCMP, No One Else Hurt

Suspect In Alberta Triple Homicide Shot By RCMP, No One Else Hurt
RCMP say that earlier today they went with a warrant to arrest Mickell Bailey in the deaths of Roxanne Berube, another female and Daniel Miller.

Suspect In Alberta Triple Homicide Shot By RCMP, No One Else Hurt

Rape Group Won't Be Heard At Ivan Henry's Compensation Hearing

A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has rejected an attempt by Vancouver Rape Relief to argue that a man acquitted of sexual assault after nearly three decades behind bars is actually guilty.

Rape Group Won't Be Heard At Ivan Henry's Compensation Hearing