Editor:
Re: ‘Barbaric cultural’ tip line criticized, Oct. 9.
It is well known that 911 calls to any police department are only utilized in cases of emergency where police are expected to attend on an urgent basis.
They are classified as life-threatening situations, including medical emergencies, serious crimes in progress and serious-injury motor-vehicle accidents.
It is surprising that federal-candidate Judy Higginbotham has attacked new legislation with a tip-line component with the intent to prevent harm to women and children. She is entitled to voice her criticism and opinion but advocates the best tip line ever is to call 911.
She also says a tip line would be another burden on the RCMP. This does not appear to be a rational conclusion, as routine calls to the police on 911 would not only be a burden but a disruption to emergency police services.
Higginbotham refers to the new legislation as a tattle-tale line. She does not consider that this legislation addresses crimes that are not normally reported through fear of reprisals, and police efficiency depends on information received from the general public.
Bill Parrott, Surrey
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The act referred to is intended to prevent polygamy, child marriage and taking children or non-consenting adults out of Canada for forced marriage abroad.
If Dianne Watts wishes to become a member of Parliament, she should have a much better understanding of the important issues in this country.
Watts may think “we have a record of being international leaders in dealing with such issues as child exploitation and human trafficking.”
However, the Conservative government has done little about child exploitation. Watts need only look at the situation in Bountiful, a polygamist community near Creston, which has been in existence for many years. Polygamy and child exploitation has been on going for decades, yet the Conservatives have done little to deal with this abhorrent and continuing situation.
Watts quotes the party line on this issue and, in so doing, shows her lack of knowledge.
Ian Routledge, White Rock
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Recent legislation was passed by Parliament aimed at protecting women from brutal customs such as ‘honour killings’, and unacceptable practices such as prearranged marriages. A hotline has been established to help those who feel they are trapped in this cultural cycle of repression, and are desperately looking for help to escape.
In typical federal Liberal fashion, this help line has been callously dubbed a snitch line. The fact that Justin Trudeau’s Liberals are willing to use isolated and marginalized women as pawns in a political game to further their own fortunes should come as no surprise to anyone.
The fact that candidate Judy Higginbotham has stooped to this level herself probably speaks to her level of desperation as election day looms. Let’s hope voters recognize these antics for what they are.
Glen Gerow, White Rock
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I am delighted that Dianne Watts and the Conservative government of Stephen Harper are out to do something about barbaric cultural practices and are proposing a tip line.
Here’s a tip. Near Creston, B.C., in the Bountiful Commune run by Winston Blackmore and Warren Jeffs, polygamy is standard practice. Young girls are bullied into marrying much older men. Cult leaders conduct a lively trade across the international boundary, trading their daughters and nieces with like-minded men in Utah and Arizona. Blackmore himself has more than 20 wives. Hundreds of children are denied a school education.
This has been going on for decades and nothing has been done, in spite of plenty of RCMP reports and evidence. Time to stop talking and start acting.
Mind you, these folks are fundamentalist Mormons, not Muslims.
Bill Piket, White Rock