The Cost of Crime

But does this report include unreported crime?

A new report says per capita spending on criminal justice — including federal and provincial jails, court costs and policing — has climbed 23 per cent over the past decade even as Canada's crime rate fell 23 per cent.

Funny thing about the Canadian constitution: Feds make criminal law, provinces pay about 75% of the cost of enforcing it.

Or, as our pal Kev says:

@fernhilldammit @matthew_barlowAt this rate we can't afford to reduce crime any further

— trapdinawrpool (@trapdinawrpool) March 20, 2013

What we can't afford is much more of this gang of corrupt, lying vandals.

YIKES! The Internet Campaign Issue That Should Have Been

You thought User Based Billing was the Internet-related campaign issue? Well, maybe it was, but it should have been this.

Writing before the election, Michael Geist sums up the various parties' platforms related to the Internet. Then he goes on to critique the Conservatives new Tough on Internet Crime Act.

And YIKES! the issues go waaay beyond the 'speechies' concerns.

First, the process problems: the bill was never debated extensively; there were no committee hearings; and privacy commissioners have deep concerns about it.

Second, more important than process is the substance of the proposals that have the potential to fundamentally reshape the Internet in Canada. The bills contain a three-pronged approach focused on information disclosure, mandated surveillance technologies, and new police powers.

Warrantless wiretapping, real-time surveillance, data storage for police purposes.

All in the name of fighting Internet crime and, of course, those evul evul child pornographers.

'But I don't have anything to worry about. I'm not a criminal.'

That's the kind of thinking that led to the biggest mass arrest in Canadian history.

This could be a terrific issue for the Fucking Useless Opposition®.

Go read the whole thing.

Then, find your (new?) Member of Parliament and let him or her know what you think. Act fast. The Contempt Party of Canada intends to pass this in its first 100 days. Has the clock started ticking yet?

h/t Mark Francis in the comments.