Canadian cities. Police with dogs. In our cities. In Canada. We did not make this up.
Ahh, the memories.
But this time, the threat is real.
The British Columbia Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) says the BC transit authority, Translink, plans to introduce drug sniffing police dogs to sniff random transit users. The civil liberties group is calling the move an unjustified violation of basic rights.
"This represents a massive intrusion into the rights of transit users. Authoritarian regimes use animals to control people. We are supposed to be readying Vancouver as a showcase to the world of a peaceful and democratic country. Yet once again a security measure is being sprung on us without consultation or debate. Will anyone really believe that this proposal to engage in mass searches of the public is driven by anything other than the Olympics?" asked Rob Holmes, President of the BCCLA. "This is as bad or worse than the Victoria police stopping and screening all users of public transit on Canada Day, frisking them to check for alcohol."
According to the BCCLA, the Supreme Court of Canada condemns these kinds of generalized searches without probable cause, and in a recent decision on the issue ruled "respect for personal privacy and autonomy" is a core Canadian value.
BC Marijuana Party leader and Cannabis Culture publisher Marc Emery also condemns the decision to introduce drug-sniffing dogs at transit stations.
"The police admit that the dogs will be used in drug sweeps and we already know that most drug arrests are for marijuana possession," said Emery. "There is no doubt that these dogs will be used to harass harmless marijuana users. Do we really want to live in a society where trained police dogs walked about by uniformed officers can sniff your body, your child's backpack and everyone's personal effects? And for what? To counter a false public perception about crime? That isn't the Canada that I believe in."
Emery is calling on BC residents to disrupt this new drug war effort using peaceful civil disobedience. "When they tried to bring the dogs to the ferries, we asked people to spray cannabis tincture all over the ferry and terminals. I think that people need to stand up against these draconian tactics and use their imagination to do so."
This tactic could generate countless false signals indicating the presence of drugs, making the dogs an ineffective enforcement tool.
News Hawk- Ganjarden 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Western Standard
Author: Matthew Johnston
Contact: Western Standard
Copyright: 2008 Western Standard
Website: BC Civil Liberties Group And Marijuana Party Leader Marc Emery Say "No" To Canine Transit Cops
Ahh, the memories.
But this time, the threat is real.
The British Columbia Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) says the BC transit authority, Translink, plans to introduce drug sniffing police dogs to sniff random transit users. The civil liberties group is calling the move an unjustified violation of basic rights.
"This represents a massive intrusion into the rights of transit users. Authoritarian regimes use animals to control people. We are supposed to be readying Vancouver as a showcase to the world of a peaceful and democratic country. Yet once again a security measure is being sprung on us without consultation or debate. Will anyone really believe that this proposal to engage in mass searches of the public is driven by anything other than the Olympics?" asked Rob Holmes, President of the BCCLA. "This is as bad or worse than the Victoria police stopping and screening all users of public transit on Canada Day, frisking them to check for alcohol."
According to the BCCLA, the Supreme Court of Canada condemns these kinds of generalized searches without probable cause, and in a recent decision on the issue ruled "respect for personal privacy and autonomy" is a core Canadian value.
BC Marijuana Party leader and Cannabis Culture publisher Marc Emery also condemns the decision to introduce drug-sniffing dogs at transit stations.
"The police admit that the dogs will be used in drug sweeps and we already know that most drug arrests are for marijuana possession," said Emery. "There is no doubt that these dogs will be used to harass harmless marijuana users. Do we really want to live in a society where trained police dogs walked about by uniformed officers can sniff your body, your child's backpack and everyone's personal effects? And for what? To counter a false public perception about crime? That isn't the Canada that I believe in."
Emery is calling on BC residents to disrupt this new drug war effort using peaceful civil disobedience. "When they tried to bring the dogs to the ferries, we asked people to spray cannabis tincture all over the ferry and terminals. I think that people need to stand up against these draconian tactics and use their imagination to do so."
This tactic could generate countless false signals indicating the presence of drugs, making the dogs an ineffective enforcement tool.
News Hawk- Ganjarden 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Western Standard
Author: Matthew Johnston
Contact: Western Standard
Copyright: 2008 Western Standard
Website: BC Civil Liberties Group And Marijuana Party Leader Marc Emery Say "No" To Canine Transit Cops
