What Steps Canada Should Take
To Protect its Citizens
By: Madylin vanVliet
There is something to be said about a
country that defends its citizens. There are
thousands of Canadians who are
imprisoned in more than 85 countries
around the world and Canada offers
Canadian consular services to help
Canadians in these situations. Canada
shouldn’t help a citizen who is detained in a
different country if it will cost the country.
Robert Schellenberg was caught smuggling
drugs in China so he was sentenced to 15
years in prison. However, in January there
was a retrial that concluded with
Schellenberg sentenced to
death.Schellenberg was previously
convicted twice to drug trafficking in
Canada. In this case, ​more than 200
kilograms of methamphetamine were seized
as part of Schellenberg's case and it has
been reported that he is a principal offender.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
accused China of "arbitrarily" applying the
death penalty. Should the Canadian fight to
protect a citizen who is arrested in another
country even though they were a criminal
here?
Robert Schellenberg
In our constitution, in section 7 it states that
all citizens have the right to life, liberty, and
security of the person except in accordance
with the principles of fundamental justice.
This exception allows criminals to be
detained without taking away their rights, so
even if Canadians who were found guilty or
a suspect of a crime and were given their
rights, they could be detained. You do the
crime, wherever you are, you do the time.
Canada offers a website
that is a handbook to help
guide and provide advice
to those arrested in
another country.It outlines
what Canada can do to
help, rights as a
Canadian you have in a
prison, and more. This
isn’t costing the country
anything and doesn’t
disrespect other countries
laws so it is the extent
Canada should have to
go.
Canada shouldn’t have to put money into a
criminal even though they are detained in
another country and is being treated by that
countries rules.