Since CTV’s W-FIVE airing of this story a few weeks ago (which I originally posted on here), there has developed a groundswell of interest in Brenda Martin’s situation by the MSM and in the blogosphere. Clearly the Harper government and the incompetent Helena Guergis are not interested in doing what needs to be done to publicly chastise Mexico and get Brenda Martin home, but the combined power of others (thank you, Paul Martin) and public outrage just may do the trick.
To contact the Mexican Embassy to Canada, just go here.
Here’s my message to Mexico: "Be advised that as a result of your continued incarceration of a Canadian, Brenda Martin, without conviction, we have cancelled our planned vacation to the Mexican Riviera. Furthermore I am encouraging friends, colleagues, and anyone else I can reach to do the same.
The Canadian government may be loathe to act, but I can assure you, the Canadian people aren’t."
Tell them what you think.
Every so often one comes across a news item that infuriates. Last night’s W-FIVE carried just such a story – Mexican Standoff.
The gist of it is this: a 50-year-old Canadian woman, Brenda Martin, has been held in a Mexican prison in Guadalajara for more than two years although she has not been convicted of any crime, nor in fact, does it appear she has even committed any crime. Seems like a pretty straightforward situation where, regardless of the merits of the legal case, the Canadian consulate would be engaged to ensure that a Canadian’s rights are being upheld and that she is getting due process, right?
Wrong! During her entire ordeal, Canadian government support has been virtually non-existent in spite of repeated attempts on her part to get them involved to help with translation and other legal issues. It is only through the intervention of an old friend that she even now has competent legal representation (possibly too late) and any visibility for her case in Canada.
Attempts by the W-FIVE team to get a response from the Canadian government were routinely brushed off and the responsible(?) minister, Helena Guergis, actually lied to the reporter about making a statement and then snuck out the back door. And the clip of the conversation with the security guard at the Canadian Consulate in Guadalajara would be hilarious if it wasn’t so sad and ridiculous. In fact, it seems that she is getting more support from the Mexican Ambassador to Canada than she has from the Harper government.
I don’t know if this is another “tough on crime” thing – the Harpercrites being afraid their base wouldn’t support them if they actually helped someone charged with a crime outside Canada – or if it’s simply ministerial incompetence layered on top of bureaucratic indifference, but this situation is appalling and it verily screams out for action on the part of Canada.
Since CTV’s W-FIVE airing of this story a few weeks ago (which I originally posted on here), there has developed a groundswell of interest in Brenda Martin’s situation by the MSM and in the blogosphere. Clearly the Harper government and the incompetent Helena Guergis are not interested in doing what needs to be done to publicly chastise Mexico and get Brenda Martin home, but the combined power of others (thank you, Paul Martin) and public outrage just may do the trick. 
