Democracy and Human Rights in Saskatchewan

By Mario deSantis, February 24, 2000

   
corruption
is rampant, racism is endemic,
We have written many articles on social and economic issues affecting Saskatchewan and we
came to the conclusion that our political, bureaucratic and economic environment is corrupted
to the extent to include our police forces and justice systems(1). That is corruption is rampant,
racism is endemic, and the economic direction of this government has been focused on behalf
of the few and privileged(2) with the result that our people are divided(3) and our children
are being deprived of their lives(4).
   

Our country
is divided socially, economically, geographically, and politically.

Our government has taken no responsibility for any social and economic problems affecting
the province, and in a natural fashion typical of an inept leadership, has been blaming the
federal government for the crisis in healthcare, the crisis in farming, the crisis in education
and the crisis in research funding. The federal government in turn has not performed that
better either, and the recent Human Resources Development Canada-HRDC scandal(5) has
deepened our cynicism against our politicians and has prompted journalist Marie-Josee
Kravis to say "how can we trust a government that is not responsible(6)" We cannot trust
our governments, we cannot trust our police forces, we cannot trust the justice system, we
are only left in trusting ourselves. Our country is divided socially, economically,
geographically, and politically. Therefore, even the electoral democratic process will not
be enough to remedy this state of alienation among people and their governments(7).
   
there is no democracy when you cannot find remedies When governments not only don't take responsibilities for their mishandling and
misappropriation of public money but they are proud of it, when police forces and
the justice systems are corrupted, and when our own people are divided, then our
democracy becomes a farce. And, there is no democracy when you cannot find remedies
to correct the continuous breaking of our social and private contracts.
   
negating
human
rights
The roots for the disintegration of our social fabric are multiple, and in this respect I would
like you, readers, to ponder the widespread philosophies of "not rocking the boat(8)" or
"what's in it for me(9)" and the corporate philosophy of "management by intimidation(10)(11)".
But what is worse is the continuation of the widespread juridical philosophy of negating
human rights(12) to our citizens while hypocritically preaching them in the United Nations.
   
human
rights are fundamental rights to be defended
I am a simple man as everybody else, and as a simple man I acquire a better understanding
of my experiences when I continuously think and reflect about them. Therefore, I would
like you to think about the deep implications of the statement made by former Saskatchewan
prosecutor and MLA Serge Kujawa "It doesn't matter if Milgaard is innocent... The whole
judicial system is at issue, it is worth more than one person(13)" No Mr. Kujawa, it mattered
that Milgaard was innocent, and as a simple man I can tell you, your colleague Premier Roy
Romanow(14), and all your friends of the legal community, that human rights are fundamental
rights to be defended by any whole judicial system.
   
-----------------Endnotes:
   
  General reference: Articles by Mario deSantis published by North Central Internet News  http://www.ftlcomm.com/ensign/authors/desantis.html
   

1.

Our Saskatchewan Justice System is Rotten to the Core, by Mario deSantis, February 19, 2000
   

2.

A World for the Few and Privileged in Saskatchewan, by Mario deSantis, February 18, 2000
   

3.
-

Few Words on the Synchrotron, Politics and Education in Saskatchewan, by Mario deSantis, April 4, 1999
   

4.

Saskatchewan Troubled Children: 40% of our school children, by Mario deSantis, January 14, 2000
   

5.
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PM comfortable using grants for partisan reasons 'Nothing to be ashamed', Andrew McIntosh and Joel-Denis Bellavance, National Post, February 19, 2000. Funds to create jobs have been disbursed to numbered companies, to companies which went bankrupt after receiving the money, to companies which didn't meet the prerequisites. The Prime Minister has stated "What strikes me is that no recipient has complained thus far" http://www.nationalpost.com
   

6.
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The questions of the HRDC scandal. How can we trust a government that is not responsible? By Marie-Josee Kravis, National Post, February 11, 2000 http://www.nationalpost.com
   

7.
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Human Resources Development Canada: Democracy for sale at the highest bidder, by Mario deSantis, February 13, 2000
   

8.
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Saskatoon police officer accuses fellow officers of racism CBC Saskatchewan. Constable Charlene Lavallee is Metis, and has been a special constable with the Saskatoon force for 6 years. She has stated "I think there's racism towards all the aboriginal officers, and it's kind of in the context of you got to fit in, or you won't be here. You've got to conform. And if you make waves, we'll make it rough." She's launched a Human Rights complaint against Saskatoon's Board of Police Commissioners. http://sask.cbc.ca/  Web Posted | Feb 22 2000 9:42 PM EST
   

9.
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Let Us Lead To Higher Ground! By Alexia Clary, MANAGEMENT GENERAL http://www.mgeneral.com/3-now/99-now/022499ac.htm
   

10.

Intimidation: Management style at Saskatoon District Health, by Mario deSantis, January 27, 2000
   

11.
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Reprint of the letter dated May 7, 1997 from McKercher McKercher & Whitmore directed to DigiCare Systems Group, attention of Mario deSantis. Replica constructed by Mario deSantis. http://www3.sk.sympatico.ca/desam/paper-letters-McKercher-deSantis-May97.htm
   

12.
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UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS Adopted and proclaimed by General Assembly resolution 217 A (III) of 10 December 1948 http://www.hrweb.org/legal/udhr.html
   

13.
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A Mother's Story: The Fight To Free My Son David, by Joyce Milgaard with Peter Edwards, Doubleday Canada Limited, 1999, page 251-- David Milgaard spent 23 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit.
   

14.
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Premier Roy Romanow and former MLA Serge Kujawa have been close associates in the administration of justice in Saskatchewan dating back to the 70s. Roy Romanow was one of the key players in the federal-provincial negotiations which resulted in the Constitutional Accord of November, 1981. In 1984, he co-authored a book on those negotiations, Canada Notwithstanding. He was also instrumental in the establishment of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission http://www.gov.sk.ca/bios/premier.htm