The Ontario government, represented by Yasir Naqvi as Minister of Community Safety, held five meetings around the province to determine a best approach to “carding”. Oddly, it seems the intention is to find ways to regulate/control/justify its use rather than eliminate the practice. Meetings in Ottawa, Thunder Bay, London and Brampton culminated in Toronto’s September 1st public consultation which was the loudest and liveliest of the five.

The Globe and Mail’s Monday, September 14 editorial, “The existential crisis facing carding”, began with:-
If Yasir Naqvi, the Ontario Minister of Community Safety, took a position on lemonade, it would probably look like this:
“We believe that lemonade has a valid refreshment purpose and should continue to be part of the standard arsenal of cold beverages used to combat thirst. However, we have zero tolerance for the squeezing of lemons to extract their juice, and stand opposed to the mixing of lemon juice with sugar and water to produce a potable liquid. Thank you.”

This Globe editorial further made the point to which we’ve returned over and over, that if carding is such a valuable crime prevention tool, why not require all Canadians to register their information with police? That would of course meet no constitutional standard.

The province is looking for a wink-wink way to be a little bit unconstitutional.

We followed up with a short letter to the minister:

September 19, 2015

Honourable Yasir Naqvi, Minister,
Ministry of Community Safety & Correctional Services,
18th Floor,
George Drew Building, 25 Grosvenor Street,
Toronto, ON M7A 1Y6

Re: Carding/Street Checks/Police Stops

Dear Minister:

The Globe and Mail’s Monday, September 14 editorial, “The existential crisis facing carding” , is as succinct on the subject as is possible.

Throughout the five ‘carding’ meetings in different Ontario cities, “….governments and police forces continue to search for rationalizations to allow carding. It boggles the mind.” is how the Globe concluded its commentary.

Carding is, after all, a form of fishing. Fishing is a pastime our police officers must restrict to their own free time, rod, reel and line in hand. One does not fish with a pencil and pad.

Why are politicians so afraid of our police services?

Yours truly,

Charles H. Klassen