Debating the Liberal Government's DNA Databank Bill

• Published in: Canada AM - CTV Television
• Format: Transcript
• Language: English
• Published: Toronto CTV Television, Inc 11.04.1997

[Herb Gray]: Well, in the case of unsolved crimes where there's no obvious suspect or group of suspects by matching DNA samples found at the crime scene with the DNA samples of convicted criminals on file in the databank it will be possible to come up with solutions where we're dealing with crimes of violence or sexual crimes of a repeat nature. And so, also at times it may help exonerate suspects by proving they couldn't have carried out the crime. NEWARK: Well, you got to understand, first of all, I think two basic points. The first is our extreme disappointment at the government's apparent lack of commitment towards public safety as a priority. The first part of this DNA legislation was brought in in June of 1995. And we are the association that actually brought the subject of the need for DNA search warrants and DNA databanks to the government, to Mr. Gray himself, actually in January of 1994. Mr. Rock promised specifically when that DNA search-warrant bill was introduced in June of '95 that the DNA databank would be there in the fall of 1995. The fact that it is introduced only now, the reality of that is that this is not going to come into effect. And, as I think [Leslie Jones] was asking moments ago, that is a demonstration of the commitment of the government at least insofar as DNA databanks that's pretty deplorable. NEWARK: Well, that's exactly the point. What the government and Mr. Gray and Mr. Rock don't seem to get about this is that there is a huge benefit to be gained with DNA information on dealing with cases where you have no suspect. What Mr. Gray was talking about is where you have a crime scene where there is trace evidence and you've got a suspect identified. Yes, we can go and get a warrant and we're very glad for that -- we pushed for that very hard. But what about the cases, for example, in Alberta of Hunky Gustafson [sp?], in Ottawa --? Your viewers should think about the cases across the country of unsolved rapes and murders. It's those cases where there's trade evidence where we have no suspect that having the information of the DNA on record will be critical in being able to go and find the person responsible for it. And that's what this bill doesn't do.