Conflict of Interest? in the Mandate?

D Stewart said...

I agree that we really must do everything we can to protect those caught up in these scams especially as it relates to seniors. While I do not quite agree with the example you have chosen to use here. (I have always felt the rich millionaire escaping Sierra Leone scam works not because of age but because of greed and just plain stupidity.) It is those scam artists that prey on the insecurities of the elderly that do by far the most harm. The bank manager scams or the stranded neighbor or relative that needs immediate help. To be honest I have the same concerns with televangelists and door to door salesmen. We had a run in a few years ago with a vacuum salesman that convinced an elderly relative to spend hundreds of dollars on a new system that they didn't need. Had we not intervened she would have had a nice vacuum but no groceries for a month. The thing is how to stop it. How do you catch people when they might well be on the other side of the world. In reality how many ever receive retribution for the crimes committed against them?

March 27, 2008 6:30 PM

T.J. Burke said...

Fair points dstewart.Although the purpose of my example is simply to demonstrate the volume and brashness of these groups who simply email anyone and everyone. Identity theft is a fairly new phenomena which used to be done in a discreet manner.

March 27, 2008 7:11 PM

T.J. Burke said...

Ryanw,

The Federal government is pushing the single regulator model aggressively. I would find it difficult to imagine if a Province like Ontario became the regualtor for all national securities that New Brunswick's concerns would be remotely on their radar. The Passport system takes full effect at the end of this month and New Brunswick is a participant. It

March 27, 2008 7:13 PM

T.J. Burke said...

Mikel,

If you lived in New Brunswick instead of looking for government spin all the time, you would see on a daily basis an aggressive marketing campaign by the NBSC focussed on protecting our citizens from scam artists.

There is no conflict of interest in the NBSC mandate. Protecting and Promoting business are not the same. As to the short list of penalties, read between the lines of my last sentence!

March 27, 2008 7:20 PM

Canadian Rods said...

Hi TJ,

To quote you: "Sure, tougher penalties can be imposed on these but who says they aren't on their way?"

Please tell us that the government has something in the works for DUI-related offences as well. If you read the local papers online, take a look at the comments about the 5 year sentence handed down to the person convicted of killing both parents of two young children. The comments are reminiscent of the ones written for the story of Peter Howe, who was initially given house arrest after killing a man with his vehicle while drunk.

We are talking about the Number 1 preventable killer in Canada, yet we're moving at a snail's pace when it comes to making the penalties harsh enough to stop these people from getting behind the wheel in the first place.

My suggestions for a DUI or refusal conviction would be a mandatory vehicle forfeiture, tripling or quadrupling of the fines imposed, mandatory jail time for repeat offenders, and a minimum 5 year license suspension on a first offence with a lifetime ban for repeat offenders.

Does it sound hars