No more pardons

[William Ashley]

Just off the top I am only a visionary and commentator not a politician, and yes this is somewhat likely self destruction on the board for myself but it is not something I hide. What I find most unfortunate is that I was victimized by the system on many reason not stated. I'm guessing there must be other innocents out there who also suffered the same or worse, but had no legal basis to challenge the situation.

Just read this article - - as someone with a criminal record gained in a very messed up situation posted at the bottom for person interest of anyone who wants to know what it is all about.

And no even though have been eligible for several years now have absolutely no intention of ever applying - regardless of the second rate treatment I get, and difficulties I have experienced related to it, as well as my dream occupation as a teacher being potentially ruined by this - and no my charges arn't sexually related.

But to this - I find the whole thing pretty messed up, how paying for something makes you reformed, yet they let people out of jail unreformed, it is stupid. If the person has passed their sentence why is this even an issue if they are released back into society. I favour scrapping pardons but it should be automatic at the end of the sentence, you should have to apply for the thing.

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/Federal+government+stop+subsidizing+pardons/3814318/story.html

Now my story - just ignore this part if you arn't interested in my personal history, the only reason I mention this is to provide the info should anyone wonder why I have or had a criminal record- it may be in there for Assault - I honestly don't know. I am who I am. I find it unfortunate that other victims of the justice system may now no longer ever have the chance to be "forgiven" and not be treated as second class citizens not deserving of equal rights. Even a summary offense such as the one for assault - based on lies by the supposed victim - is something that restricts a lot of life options for myself. I have few doubts others have suffered the same injustices due to what I witnessed with how the system functions.

This experience has led me to advocate for justice reform though as a result. Including the automatic pardoning of people who have served their sentence, rather than making people live for 5 to 7 years as second class citizens making sentences last a minimum of 5 to 7 years.

A clerk refused to sell a pack of cigarettes so I questioned why she refused sale even though she believed me 4 years over the age of purchase - she had previous sold to me also.

During the situation I requested she call the police.

The cop arrived J. Parent - radioed in that I was resisting arrest (no charge for resisting arrest ever happened) -then walked over and made physical contact by grabbing my wrist. He stood there doing nothing and I requested he release my wrist. He just stood there so I took hold of his - he said if I didn't let go of him I would be charged with assault police. He then screamed LET GO and spun me around were he separated from me around 10 ft and then a chain of events.

I ended up with an assault charge turned into a conditional sentence. The story doesn't end it continues for 2 more years, then another few.. and well it still continues and will likely never end.

This because I questioned the refusal of the sale of a pack of cigarettes by someone who thought I was legal age to purchase. And I am the criminal for that, no I don't think so. She is the one who made contact with me, she is the one who infringed the law on sale at the time, the cop is the one who initiated contact without pressing charges or informing me of charges, he is the one who initiated physical contact with myself. and I am the criminal. It only became more exasperated by the court case that my basic rights were violated during the trial. And I am the criminal. A case where the witnesses perjured, and the judge lied during judgment and admitted to it. and I am the criminal. It is totally bogus. And this is that I'm the one who is suppose to be forgiven. This is why I don't value the concept of a pardon, because I am the criminal for being a victim of abuse of the justice system.

- clerk refuses to sell even though at the time fully within the law to sell - she stating I looked 23 so I get into an discussion with her over it - during which I request she calls the police.

- cop radios in I was resisting arrest - the grabs my risk and stands there, I ask him to let go, he doesn't respond so I grabbed his wrist, he pepper sprays me.

That is my crime. I assaulted the clerk by questioning why she refused the sale. That is why I don't have the right to travel, reduced employability, because I questioned refusal of a clerk who thought I was my actual age and 4 years over the purchase age. -- After my case the law changed to make it fully within the act to refuse up to the age of 25, at the time I was 23.

That is the system for you.

This excerpted from another post this is why some things about people making lies, because people are still spreading lies about the situation 7 years later.

I did not rob any store clerk ever.

I did not assault a store clerk ever.

A store clerk did state I pushed her - however it was a lie, and I never in fact push her in her capacity as a store clerk, nor at the event in question.

I may however have known her a few years previously (met her once with some friends from St. Davids); however, I'm not convinced she knew the people I knew from St. Davids - as it may have been someone else.

Also my brother claims to have known her. (He attended a club named abstract on a semi regular basis)

One of the witnesses was someone I DID push... while with some of my friends one night but it wasn't assualtive... he was a witness Greg Shantz, but he wasn't called. And it was years before that the nudge happened with him... but that night no one was pushed by myself. There are multiple people Ian, Ty, (Steve is dead - he was driving that night), and Rafal Gora ----all them were there with me and greg that night. Ian I think invitedhim but I met Greg when he worked at Jumbo Video at brigeport plaza years before. The night at the store no one was nudged or pushed by myself. The clerk did reach out and touch me on my shoulder though (to which I replied she assaulted me..)

His girlfriend was another witness and others that were somewhat associated with people I have known or known......

The two people tracy mathews and mary kletkee both made false statements at the hearing.

There is much more to this but the end of the story was, I was framed up. These are verifiable things to anyone interested in investigating the situation.

What everything stemmed from was that the same person Mary I had previously bought a pack of cigarettes off - refused to sell to me even though she stated twice I looked 23 (my age at the time) at the time you only needed to appear 19 to be sold to.... the law however changed after my case that it could be discretionary to 25 - however at the time it was only 19.

She said ask the manager and was very soft, by soft I mean not really attempting to help the situation get resolved, in actually being a good clerk, as she was seriously wasting my time - and I didn't see the store manager on coming into the store nor near the counter.

Witnesses then said - I JUMPED over the counter ---- this absolutely never happened a COMPLTELY different event occurred - I asked her to call the police if she wasn't going to sell to me and made a scene.

I then walked around the side of the counter and started a dialogue (complained and questioned her in how she handled the situation) with her, this was not one way communication.

The cop showed up radioed in I was resisting arrest --- he then walked over and grabbed my wrist and held it while blankly looking at me (I can only guess since he already called and said I was resisting he was waiting for the kettle to boil)

I calmly asked him to let go of my wrist as he was causing me harm- he did not...

Since he seemed unresponsive, I grabbed his wrist so he would maybe clue in I didn't approve of him standing there holding onto my wrist and doing nothing.

He then SCREAMED "LET GO" and spun me around and let go of me and paced off around 10 feet.

He screamed "GET DOWN"

I was stunned at the time from just being spun around

He then stated "I'll spray you"

So I pulled my jacket up over my face, as I had no idea what I was about to be sprayed with, I was only aware that he looked to his belt. I was later informed in was OCspray.

After a second or so of having my jacket over my face and nothing happening I put my jacket back down and was immediately sprayed by a stream of blue colour.

I was stunned again

He stated "get down now."

I was starting to then get upset and I was feeling strange.

I started to be unable to open my eyes and was detached from the situation.

I noticed another cop enter Officer Schmidt, and at that point started to be forced to the ground... was cuffed

told to stand up - I simply stated I couldn't - being handcuffed on the ground and face to the ground made it difficult to attempt to stand even while blind and confused from the situation not providing a chance to collect my thoughts.

I was then dragged across the parking lot, searched and put into the back of the car

Meanwhile everyone was being questioned outside or yelled at.

I started to have difficulty breathing and the burning sensation increased into pain. I started gaging and chocking and could here the cops yelling at the people outside - and giving them instructions - and most likely taking statements.

After a minute or 3 the officer entered the car and drove me to the station.. the event continues from there.

The situation was a very minor discussion over an attempt to buy cigarettes. I was victimized by the situation, and treated very rudely, the situation would have been quite simple if the clerk asked the manager to serve me rather than having me find the manager - whilst she served the next customer.

None the less I was the wronged party in what occurred.

And she was a total bitch for doing what she did

The fact they both later perjured only makes the situation so much more grave, and this caused massive damage pain and hurt for myself, and still continues to derail my life.

Then people like Eddie come along and spread lies and false statements.

There is no humour in the situation this tore me very deeply and caused massive damage to my life that will never be healed or repaired. The people continue to bring this up only aggravates the stiaution and the fact you people have done this for years now seems to only further demonstrate malicious intent.

I'll state it one more time, stop making false statements about myself. Someday the people involved with have to face their actions, I have faith that things will be rectified. I have no forgiveness for them.

Edited November 12, 2010 by William Ashley

[Bryan]

Criminals ALWAYS say they didn't do it. Everyone in prison says they were framed, or that the witnesses against them lied.

[Shakeyhands]

I don't think there should be a cost associated with a pardon either. I also don't think that all offences should be pardonable (read: Homolka, James type things) I do however think that some people do make mistakes and those mistakes shouldn't be hung over them for life. Increasing the cost of a pardon isn't the answer.

[guyser]

Criminals ALWAYS say they didn't do it. Everyone in prison says they were framed, or that the witnesses against them lied.

And some of them are telling the truth. They were framed, some witnesses did lie.

Thats relevant how?

[Keepitsimple]

I'm amazed that it only cost $50 to get a pardon in the first place.....so I'm releved to see that it's going up to $150. One could argue who should be eligible for a pardon.....but surely one can't complain at paying an administration cost of $150 to rid oneself of a public criminal record and be able to get on with their life.

[William Ashley]

I'm amazed that it only cost $50 to get a pardon in the first place.....so I'm releved to see that it's going up to $150. One could argue who should be eligible for a pardon.....but surely one can't complain at paying an administration cost of $150 to rid oneself of a public criminal record and be able to get on with their life.

It costs more actually I think you also need to get a records check and that requires you to get fingerprinting. You also need to mail it. There are third party groups that do this for you, and they charge more.

For instance:

AssuredPardons.com Certified Canada Pardon: $325

more can be seen here - but the name is set to change...

http://www.nationalpardon.org/NPC_faqs.html

OR RATHER

http://www.pbc-clcc.gc.ca/index-eng.shtml

there are a lot of sites like the one above called the national pardon centre

http://www.pbc-clcc.gc.ca/infocntr/policym/polman-eng.shtml#a420

Outlines how it has worked, this is wanted to be changed by the Conservative Party

The actual current application process is found below:

http://www.pbc-clcc.gc.ca/prdons/pardon-eng.shtml

The process will likely cost currently around $80-$100 .. the additional cost will increase it to $180-$200

with a service doing it for you probably around $300-$400

Edited November 12, 2010 by William Ashley

[Shwa]

I'm amazed that it only cost $50 to get a pardon in the first place.....so I'm releved to see that it's going up to $150. One could argue who should be eligible for a pardon.....but surely one can't complain at paying an administration cost of $150 to rid oneself of a public criminal record and be able to get on with their life.

I agree. If you don't got the time and don't got the dime, don't do the crime.

However, for minor charges without re-offending for a certain period (5-7 years sounds about right), like the example WA presents, I see no reason a small administrative action couldn't effectively seal those records pardon-like.

[Shakeyhands]

I'm amazed that it only cost $50 to get a pardon in the first place.....so I'm releved to see that it's going up to $150. One could argue who should be eligible for a pardon.....but surely one can't complain at paying an administration cost of $150 to rid oneself of a public criminal record and be able to get on with their life.

Believe it or not, the $50 is/would be prohibitive to some people, in addition the total is $75 not $50. You have to include the $25 for the finger print check, the $50 is for the Pardon processing fee alone.

[William Ashley]

Believe it or not, the $50 is/would be prohibitive to some people, in addition the total is $75 not $50. You have to include the $25 for the finger print check, the $50 is for the Pardon processing fee alone.

I'm geussing the pro torment people also would like the fact if you don't get approved, you don't get a refund. Much like the US waiver process - this a fee if you have a record even with a pardon and want to travel to the US.. it costs more and takes longer, and the Canadian Pardon has no effect on the requirement to apply for it.

It is about the same as the Canadian Pardon process but costs $545 to apply and you don't get a refund if the waiver is refused.

Edited November 12, 2010 by William Ashley

[M.Dancer]

I'm geussing the pro torment people also would like the fact if you don't get approved, you don't get a refund. Much like the US waiver process - this a fee if you have a record even with a pardon and want to travel to the US.. it costs more and takes longer, and the Canadian Pardon has no effect on the requirement to apply for it.

The paper is done for you whether you get it or not....just like legal fees, you don't get them back if you are found guilty.

[William Ashley]

The paper is done for you whether you get it or not....just like legal fees, you don't get them back if you are found guilty.

You don't get them back if you are found innocent aka not guilty either.

Edited November 12, 2010 by William Ashley

[Shakeyhands]

You don't get them back if you are found innocent aka not guilty either.

Now there's an idea. The idea of having to reimburse the person is interesting. It sure would put the onus on the Crown to make sure the case is airtight.