Libertarian Party of Canada
Attention News/Assignment Editors:

Scarborough-Rouge River Libertarian Candidate on Crime, Restitution, Foreign Policy and Civil Liberties

January 10, 2006 - Toronto, ON  The following is a statement by Alan Mercer, candidate for the Libertarian Party of Canada in Scarborough-Rouge River.

As the Libertarian Party's candidate in Scarborough-Rouge River for the federal election, I would ask those who believe in individual rights and liberty to support my campaign and get involved locally with the Libertarian Party during and after the election. Other Libertarian candidates are listed at: http://www.libertarian.ca/english/news/06jan05-registered-candidates.html.

My Platform

• Self-ownership and property rights. Greater personal and economic liberty.
• Repeal victimless "crimes". Police and courts should be focused on crimes of violence, theft and fraud.
• Restitution. Criminals should have to compensate their victims.
• End drug prohibition which enriches criminals and leads to violence.
• No to social engineering. No to government taking over the responsibility of families with child care subsidies.
• Oppose restrictions on freedom of expression. Preserve and enhance basic Charter freedoms.
• Preserve civil liberties, due process rights and habeas corpus.
• Humane treatment of all prisoners. Canada should take a stand against the abuse of detainees.
• End foreign interventionism. Strengthen the military, but only for defence.
• Non-aggression. Say no to the bombing of civilians and their homes.
• Canada should be militarily and politically independent.
• Stop the growth of government surveillance which threatens individual rights and liberties.
• End government domination of our lives through regulations, taxes, subsidies and fiat currency.
• Oppose Kyoto and let Canadians make their own decisions about climate change propaganda.
• Human needs first. Enhance property rights and say no to environmental central planning.
• Peace and genuine free trade with the world.

Comments

We are living in a frustrating time for those who are care about personal liberty. I hear a lot of talk from the media and politicians who are blaming inanimate objects - guns - for criminal acts. If I was living in a society where individuals were not held accountable for their actions, then this is exactly the sort of nonsense I would expect to hear.

The fact is that the justice system is completely broken down. For various reasons, criminals do not serve full sentences. Also, there are victimless so-called "crimes" that should not be listed as crimes in the first place. But a more fundamental flaw in the justice system is the absence of restitution.

Our society insists on seeing crimes of violence and theft as being against the State, but they are actually crimes against particular victims, because they are violations of the rights of those individuals. Libertarians insist that real justice and accountability should revolve around the requirement for convicted criminals to pay damages to victims and their families for the harm they have done. Those who need to go to prison should also have to pay for their stay in prison. Reward money could also be funded in this way, and this would help to encourage witnesses to come forward. Restitution adds incentive for those involved to turn in criminals.

Comments on Foreign Policy and Civil Liberties

Another reason to be worried is Canada's endless foreign interventionism, whether it be Afghanistan or Haiti. I question why Canada is not pursuing a more peaceful and neutral direction in its foreign policy. I do not want my country to be associated with any kind of alliance that will rain down bombs on innocent civilians in Yugoslavia or Afghanistan. I don't want our government to be associated with imperialism, war propaganda, the torture of prisoners - including Maher Arar - or U.S. nuclear weapons policies.

I'm sick to death of this trumped up endless "War on Terror" which was caused by Western interference in the Middle East and Central Asia. Along with the resulting threat of terrorism comes the cowering submission of people who would betray the liberties of their fellow Canadians and the rights of non-citizens for false security. Civil liberty issues include abusive no-fly lists, government-mandated internet surveillance technology, and the practice of detention without charges and secret evidence.

There needs to be much greater respect for individual rights - life and property. We need to recognize that the same moral rules and limitations that apply to interactions between individuals must also apply to governments.

Information on the Libertarian Party of Canada

• Other Candidates  http://www.libertarian.ca/english/news/06jan05-registered-candidates.html
  
• Statement of Principles:   http://www.libertarian.ca/english/libertarian-party-canada.html
  
• Statement of Objectives of the Libertarian Party of Canada (Positions):  http://www.libertarian.ca/english/libertarian-party-positions.html
  
• How to Join:  http://www.libertarian.ca/english/libertarian-party-join.html
  

About Alan Mercer

Alan Mercer has lived in the riding of Scarborough-Rouge River, in the Malvern area, for the past five years, and has been married to his wife Anne for nine years. He is a Software Quality Assurance Analyst and has worked in Toronto's software industry since 1994. He was born in Northern Ireland in 1967 and subsequently immigrated to Canada with his family. He graduated from high school in Northern Ireland, and completed a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Toronto, majoring in Mathematics.

Mercer is committed to furthering the Libertarian philosophy of economic and personal freedom in Canada. He is a member of both the Executive of the Ontario Libertarian Party and the Board of Directors of the Libertarian Party of Canada. Recently, he ran as a candidate in the 2005 provincial by-election for Scarborough-Rouge River.

Contact Information

Alan Mercer
Libertarian Party of Canada
Candidate, Scarborough-Rouge River

Authorized by the Official Agent for Alan Mercer