To the Editor,
One reason for conflict between the government and B.C. teachers is due to the courts. Teachers won a decision by the B.C. court that the government broke the law by dumping the contract secured by the previous government. But the court also ruled the government could continue the crime to secure an agreement.
It’s unlikely a judge would decide a convicted dope dealer can keep dealing until he pays off his car loan.
Many complain about the courts failure to protect society from criminals released from our jails. Nevertheless the rates of these particular crimes are declining, indicating compassion does make us all a little safer. On the other hand, when obvious criminal actions are either ignored, or in the case of teachers, actually permitted by the courts, we all suffer.
Inability to prosecute company owners whose trains derail or sawmills explode due to their failure to follow required safety guidelines is far more dangerous than the odd drunk driver. Cleanup of the Gail Shea oil spill by a Norwegian tanker in Squamish estuary is being contested in B.C. courts while the company continues building fish farms that spread diseases to our wild salmon.
A three-year court battle over government employees giving inside information on the sale of B.C. Rail resulted in taxpayer’s forking out a $6 million fine and all court costs.
It’s difficult to determine in these cases which is more unjust, the criminals or the courts.
Jim ErkiletianNanaimo