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

Hollande Gives Trudeau A Pass On Pulling CF18s From Anti-ISIL Bombing Campaign

Hollande Gives Trudeau A Pass On Pulling CF18s From Anti-ISIL Bombing Campaign
French President Francois Hollande appeared to give his blessing to Canada's proposed withdrawal of its fighter jets from the bombing campaign against Islamic militants after meeting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Sunday at the Elysee Palace.

Hollande Gives Trudeau A Pass On Pulling CF18s From Anti-ISIL Bombing Campaign

Justin Trudeau Era To Start With Sweeping Parliamentary Reforms, Empowerment Of MPs

OTTAWA — The Justin Trudeau era begins in earnest Friday with all the pomp of a traditional speech from the throne.

Justin Trudeau Era To Start With Sweeping Parliamentary Reforms, Empowerment Of MPs

Montreal Police Seize Guns, Drugs And Cash In Predawn Raids Targeting Drug Trade

A Montreal police spokesman said officers also seized more than $100,000 cash, two firearms and an undetermined amount of drugs including cocaine, crystal meth and amphetamines.

Montreal Police Seize Guns, Drugs And Cash In Predawn Raids Targeting Drug Trade

The Way Is Paved For Segways To Become Legal On Nova Scotia's Roads

The Way Is Paved For Segways To Become Legal On Nova Scotia's Roads
Nova Scotia's transportation minister is among those who have taken the scooters for a spin, and he believes they can safely share the road.

The Way Is Paved For Segways To Become Legal On Nova Scotia's Roads

Five Things To Watch For In The Canadian Business World In The Coming Week

Five Things To Watch For In The Canadian Business World In The Coming Week
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris that kicks off Monday. 

Five Things To Watch For In The Canadian Business World In The Coming Week

Conservatives Cool Their Heels, Eye 2017 Leadership Vote

OTTAWA — Familiar, experienced Conservatives will take their places on the opposition benches this week in the Commons, but behind them is a party that is exhausted, in organizational limbo, and only slowly beginning to plan for a leadership race.

Conservatives Cool Their Heels, Eye 2017 Leadership Vote