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letter to Prime Minister Jean Chretien
July 20, 1999
To:
The Right Honourable Jean Chretien
Prime Minister of Canada
Room 309-S, Centre Block
The House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
Dear Mr. Chretien:
I write to express my outrage at the " Young Offenders Act" in its
current state and respectfully request that its reform be given paramount
priority in the House of Commons.
On June 29, 1999, my 15 year old son, Jonathan, while walking his dog in our
neighbourhood park in Newmarket, was chased, cornered and brutally attacked by
three young men, two age 17 and one age 16.
As of the date of this letter he is still in a coma at Toronto's Sick Childrens'
Hospital with a severe brain injury. We are at his side day and night, and our
lives, dreams and aspirations have been forever altered by this barbaric,
unnecessary violence.
The reasons for the attack remain unclear, however, it was a most cowardly and
totally premeditated act of violence that has changed hundreds, if not
thousands, of lives. Words cannot adequately explain the pain, fear and terror,
hopelessness, outrage and anxiety that my family and community are experiencing
by this senseless act of violence and cowardice.
I attach two newspaper articles written by Toronto Sun columnist Heather Bird,
for your reference.
The accused have been charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault and
are now in custody at York Region Police Headquarters. The entire York Regional
Police department have completed their investigation in the most professional
manner, with the utmost compassion for Jonathan and our family.
We have been advised that the accused are posturing through their respective
solicitors to have the charges laid under the "Young Offenders Act" which would
not only bind the hands of the police and the entire judicial system but make a
complete mockery of decent, law abiding people throughout Canada.
These young men are from privileged families in Newmarket and are just months
away from an adult jurisdiction and are old enough to know the difference
between right and wrong. If our system allows these three accused to be treated
as "Young Offenders" with minimal penalties then the tragedy that has befallen
my son and family will be a travesty and all parents in Canada will suffer an
injustice in the extreme.
We must take a stand now, on behalf of all civilized Canadians, to
guarantee immediate reforms to the "Young Offenders Act". We must untie the
hands of our Police Officers to administrate our laws and protect our citizens
from predators who hide behind the laws that were designed to protect the
innocent.
I implore you and all of our leaders to intervene and scream at the injustice
that has been dealt all victims of young criminals that have been processed
under the "Young Offenders Act". We must guarantee that future predators and
criminals will be dealt with as the adults that they truly are.
The Hospital for Sick Children is capable of miracles and all of the doctors,
surgeons, nurses and staff are the most professional, tireless and compassionate
human beings to be found anywhere in the world. Canada is the greatest country
in the world and we are proud to raise our son as a caring, gentle, contributing
member of society.
Please give a strong message to those few Canadian "Young Offenders" that prey
on the innocent citizens of Canada that this will not be tolerated, or go
unpunished. My son's trauma must not be in vain.
Sincerely Yours,
Joseph F. Wamback
Jonathan's father
cc:
The Honourable Anne McLellan, Minister of Justice
Roger Prefontaine, Clerk of the Justice Committee
John Maloney, M.P. Chair of the Justice Committee
Karen Kraft Sloan, M. P. York North
York Regional Police, Detectives Trach, Barratt, Kerr
Encl. 2
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