Shhh! Law At Work - Man deported to Netherlands after 60 years in Canada

[White_Unifier]

can't or won't? I've heard both.

Depends. When I was in Montreal, I'd caught a stranger speaking in English once and then just to test her, I asked her a question in English and she pretended to not know it.

In Quebec City, the total opposite. Though I'm a native French speaker, I have a slight English accent when I speak French. I asked a person on the street in French where the local library was, and he tried his darnedest to answer me in English before being defeated by his limited English and switched to French. I think he wanted to impress me with his English. He did know some English so I congratulated him on it. English is not easy after all.

So the irony is that those who know English well might refuse to speak it and those who don't will at least try.

Ironic, innit?

It means that Holland is a European country. If you want an example, look at that piece of sh*t from Rwanda that's been here illegally for years, in and out of prison, committing crimes. And yet they can't deport him because he won't sign some f*cking papers? Give me a goddam break.

The problem with his case is that he claimed to come from Rwanda but he might also have come from Tanzania and he had no documents. Kind of hard to send him back when we don't know where 'back' is.

Maybe we can board him on an RCAF flight with troops to an allied state and then sneak him off the plane and dump him there?

 

[Twila]

It's interesting how people equate mentally illness with being stupid or brainless.

Is it any wonder that mental illness is still stigmatized

I don't equate mental illness with brainless, but I do find it infuriating that some are willing to use their mental illness as a reason for not being able to follow the law.

I can't decide if the reporters are using his mental illness or if he's using his mental illness for gain...

 

[Curious Cdn]

I'm impressed. Most Quebecers can't speak English.

Being an English speaking Quebecer by birth and up-bringing I would have to say that ... It's true.
It's not true in Montreal, though.

 

[White_Unifier]

Being an English speaking Quebecer by birth and up-bringing I would have to say that ... It's true.
It's not true in Montreal, though.

Generally true, but always exceptions. I've met fluent English speakers in the remotest parts of Quebec and a French speaker in Ottawa who barely knew English (since she moved to Ottawa not long before after getting married). to be safe, it's best to assume the person is telling the truth until proved otherwise. And if so, best to just ignore him. Not worth fighting over.

 

[Cannuck]

I don't equate mental illness with brainless, but I do find it infuriating that some are willing to use their mental illness as a reason for not being able to follow the law....

I hear ya. The nerve of people that use an illness that affects how they think as an excuse for not thinking right

 

[JLM]

It's devastating me,' says Len Van Heest, who blames his bipolar disorder for his criminal convictions.

A 59-year-old B.C. man who had lived in Canada since he was a baby has been deported to the Netherlands because of his criminal offences, which he says were due to his mental illness.

"This is the only home I've ever known," Len Van Heest said in a tearful interview Monday at Vancouver International Airport. "And they're kicking me out now.

"They're sending me to a foreign country, they're taking my mom away from me, all my friends. I'm devastated."


Cory Correia - CBC News

I think our illustrious Prime Minister has to take the credit for that idiocy!

 

[Twila]

I hear ya. The nerve of people that use an illness that affects how they think as an excuse for not thinking right

not what I meant.

bi polar does not mean no responsiblity for your actions. If the majority of bi polar sufferers are NOT out committing crimes then surely this gentleman can also not commit crimes? Surely, since he's been diagnosed and medicated he can manage himself.

I have a friend with the same mental illness. Hasn't committed any crimes. Has had episodes and he must be very careful about how he lives and what he does. But he makes the choice to do what he must (just like the a mentally healthy person does) and he has a support system...just like this bloke.

At some point in time even the mentally ill have to take responsibility for their lives, no?

 

[Cannuck]

I glad you are so knowledgeable about this man's condition. I had no idea that all bi-polar individuals suffer exactly the same way.

 

[Twila]

I glad you are so knowledgeable about this man's condition. I had no idea that all bi-polar individuals suffer exactly the same way.

we could continue to talk about whether a mentally ill person is responsible for their actions or not or you can continue on with your sarcastic assumptions, insinuations. I've lots of time for the first...

 

[Remington1]

I stand by my fellow Canadians who make these decisions. If he was deported, I'm sure his rap sheet was concerning. Blaming his condition is wrong, sounds more like a career criminal!

 

[Cannuck]

your sarcastic assumptions...

My assumptions? That's funny.

Blaming his condition is wrong

Really? What do you know about his condition?

 

[JLM]

not what I meant.

bi polar does not mean no responsiblity for your actions. If the majority of bi polar sufferers are NOT out committing crimes then surely this gentleman can also not commit crimes? Surely, since he's been diagnosed and medicated he can manage himself.

I have a friend with the same mental illness. Hasn't committed any crimes. Has had episodes and he must be very careful about how he lives and what he does. But he makes the choice to do what he must (just like the a mentally healthy person does) and he has a support system...just like this bloke.

At some point in time even the mentally ill have to take responsibility for their lives, no?

The ones I've known are fine for all intents and purposes as long as they take their medication. Off their medication no one is safe around them, it's like a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde situation, so I've been told.

 

[Twila]

The ones I've known are fine for all intents and purposes as long as they take their medication. Off their medication no one is safe around them, it's like a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde situation, so I've been told.

So do you think they are responsible for their actions or ?

 

[JLM]

So do you think they are responsible for their actions or ?

Oh boy! That is a $million question. I'm guessing most judges would rule "no". I'm just guessing that it is a disease comparable to skitzophrenia, which the guy had who beheaded the man on the bus suffered from & he was ruled not criminally responsible for his actions. From the couple of cases I know of I would say when they go off the "deep end" they are not cognizant of their actions or the seriousness thereof. But that is only my opinion and probably not worth much in the great scheme of things.

 

[Twila]

Oh boy! That is a $million question. I'm guessing most judges would rule "no". I'm just guessing that it is a disease comparable to skitzophrenia, which the guy had who beheaded the man on the bus & he was ruled not criminally responsible for his actions. From the couple of cases I know of I would say when they go off the "deep end" they are not cognizant of their actions or the seriousness thereof. But that is only my opinion and probably not worth much in the great scheme of things.

Thanks for that Jlm.

I totally wrestle with this. I lean towards the individual details, facts, patient history, type of crime, etc.but tend to lean towards safety of the majority over the rights of an individual. Meh, i think research into mental illness should be a priority from a criminal/justice perspective and health care perspective.

 

[Cannuck]

Whether the guy is legally "responsible" for his actions isn't the real issue for me.

For years the criminal justice system kept passing this guy through the system. People expect the mentally ill to deal with their issue but in all likelihood, nobody offered assistance or required action if they were aware of a problem.

By definition, they are having problems with some basic thought processes. Knowledge and understanding goes along way. Imagine if the first police officer, first crown prosecutor, first judge or first probation officer had suspected bi-polar disorder and suggested medical treatment instead of legal proceedings. We would have saved a lot of time, money and heartache. Unfortunately, we're still fighting the demonization of the mentally ill.

Blaming a mentally ill person is lazy. Fortunately, times are changing.

 

[JLM]

Thanks for that Jlm.

I totally wrestle with this. I lean towards the individual details, facts, patient history, type of crime, etc.but tend to lean towards safety of the majority over the rights of an individual. Meh, i think research into mental illness should be a priority from a criminal/justice perspective and health care perspective.

I agree in that I think the main concern has to be for the safety of innocent people.

 

[Cannuck]

That's because you're short sighted

 

[B00Mer]

This is crazy. Heartless for sure. Where is selfie-boy? Time for him to step up and get some common sense applied.

Currently he's in Texas.. smart fella..

Trudeau travels to Texas to talk oil and gas - Macleans.ca

 

[Curious Cdn]

Wasn't he also known as Van Dr Zalm and didn't he run a fantasy garden out in Lotus Land, for a time?

Seems to me, I remember this crazy person ...