According to the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law.
I believe that our current judicial system has a key flaw that is violating that basic human right: When a Canadian citizen is brought up on charges under government or government commission legislation, that citizen’s taxes pay the prosecution’s expenses. Unfortunately, that citizen is also forced to pay the full cost of his own defense using his after-tax income. Whether the court case is ultimately won or lost, the person forced to defend himself is also forced to finance both sides of the legal battle.
The prosecution has absolutely nothing to lose financially, so money is no object for them and they can drag in as many experts and lawyers as they wish--and they can drag court cases out for years, with no repercussions. The citizen defending himself often lives in fear of losing everything--his livelihood, his home, and his entire life’s savings--in order to defend himself. In a fair trial, both sides have equal opportunity to represent their case and to fight for what they believe is right. When the poorer of the two must shoulder the entire financial burden of the trial, then a fair trial--and equality before the law--is simply impossible.
Call or e-mail your MP and MPP requesting their support for a legal defense funding system focused on helping Canadians who are being dragged through our courts due to the increasingly burdensome and confusing maze of government and commission legislation. Our government is supposed to be working for the betterment of all Canadian citizens, not just for the betterment of itself. This funding is an essential step in that direction.
David Honey
President, Niagara Landowners Association
