Carole James: Call an inquiry into the Pickton investigation with a broad, yet focused mandate
By Carole James
The time has come for the B.C. government to call a public inquiry into the investigation of Robert William Pickton. Nothing less will address the public’s unanswered questions. And nothing less will give justice to the victims and their families.
Robert Pickton was charged with murdering 26 women. And while he convicted on six of those counts, ultimately, the system failed. It failed these women and their families. It failed all of us.
According to the Vancouver Police Department’s report, information and evidence implicating Pickton in the homicides of sex-trade workers came to light as early as 1997. Had the police investigation proceeded differently, lives might have been saved.
How did this happen, why did it happen and how can we prevent it from ever happening again? A public inquiry is the first step toward answering these pressing and complex questions.
Some have called for an inquiry in order to understand why Pickton was not apprehended sooner. Others have called for an inquiry to provide justice to the victims, many of whom are still waiting to have their voices heard. Still others believe an inquiry offers a chance to examine the systemic challenges facing the impoverished and the addicted.
Each of these could be addressed as part of a fulsome public inquiry with a broad, yet focused mandate.
Most importantly, a public inquiry is open and transparent by law. It is open to the public; access is unhindered. The Pickton investigation is a public-policy matter that is too important to trust to an undefined "public" process.
On September 9, the B.C. government will announce how they will proceed. They don’t need to wait. They can do the right thing and call a public inquiry now. Justice and the public’s right to know demands it.
Robert Pickton was charged with murdering 26 women. And countless others have been reported missing. We cannot and must not forget them in our search for answers. It is incumbent upon us to take clear and concrete steps to identify and address the gaps in the system; a system that failed. It’s time for a public inquiry.
Carole James is leader of the B.C. New Democratic Party Official Opposition.
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This needs to be said, and I know for a FACT I represent the vast majority. Just because people hate the Liberals and the HST doesn't mean the NDP are any better or you have become a better leader. Honestly you had the chance of a lifetime to rise and be something great, use choice words and direction against the HST and Liberals, but you have been suspiciously yet predictable silent. This was your chance you and you blew it. Fact is if you and you party have done as bad as the Liberals in the past and have done nothing to redeem yourself. Personally I would KILL to have a chance to debate you face to face. I would tear you and your party limb from limb. Guess what? The Liberals have fallen to your level, you have not raise a billionth of a billionth of a meter (the smallest measurement made by man.
BTW,,,do you own a suit made prior to 1990?
How fucked up and institutional does one have to be to ignore information about serial killings - honestly think about it.
im just pissed at the NPD, Liberals and HST, and didnt have a proper forum to post it.
Sorry and that was wrong.
To be honest thou when it comes to this topic it pisses me off to see so many people pissed off at Pickton and who is to blame over the 49 people killed. As disgusting as it may sound, the truth is 49 dead people as a result of a killer is nothing compared to the number of people who have died on the DTES as a result of being ignored by not only the city, provincial and federal government, but also the citizens of vancouver who simply dont care. Honestly as long the problems there arnt in people's back yards it will never be an issue people demand to be changed. I have lived in gastown for 9 years and it has gotten worse not better.
Its amazing how much attention this is getting. Imagine if the police acted and arrested after the first murder. What about the people dying from drugs, starvation, homelessness etc etc. every year. Would as much attention be given to that today as this? Pickton has never been the biggest killer on the DTES....not even close, yet for some odd reason this issue gets a huge amount of attention. Why not direct the energy to what the real killer is on the DTES, and whats really being over looked?
Remember when that homeless shelter opened up under the Granville bridge close to yaletown and how pissed off people in that area were over seeing the problem? Its not that they were mad about the city not doing anything about homeless people it was that they were mad they had to see the problem in their back yard.
Why is Pickton and the issue of when he was stopped getting all the attention? Its not like he was ever even close to the biggest killer on the DTES.
If a public inquiry into the handling of the Pickton case can bring more certainty to us that such influences will not affect future decisions, we should not hesitate to seek answers to very hard questions.
If I may hazard a guess, there are probably UNSOLVED crimes out there. Let us by all means exhort the cops to catch the UNSOLVED criminals.
Here is a question the family members of those killed. Where they hell where you when your sister, daughter etc was living a risky lifestyle on the DTES. Blame lays one you too. I would NEVER let a family member suffer down there. In the end its not up to complete strangers to take care of your family...its YOU.
sorry just had to say what I know others are thinking. Still today it amazes me that people point at the government to do something about the people on the DTES. Where are the families? WHERE THE HELL ARE THE CHIEFS OF THE RESERVES? You have to admit the people down there are sort of disportioncate. Forget admitting it just look at the facts.
I can hear the whining now: "The police did not get us enough evidence", "there was no substantial likelihood of conviction", "you don't understand the law", blah blah blah.