The federal government wanted to sue notorious child killer Clifford Olson to get back the $100,000 paid to him to reveals where his victims were buried, but they backed down for fear of political embarrassment, secret declassified records show..Blacklock’s Reporter said then-Justice Minister Mark MacGuigan came up with the idea after it was learned the RCMP had paid Olson the cash..“The Minister of Justice informed colleagues he was considering whether to bring a lawsuit to recover money paid by the federal government through the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to Clifford Olson in return for information which Olson had provided to the police,” said Cabinet Minutes. .“Mr. MacGuigan stressed the decision was his alone as attorney general, but that he was interested in his colleagues’ views on the matter.”.Olson admitted the tortured and killed 11 children. .The Supreme Court of Canada in 1985 dismissed a lawsuit by victims’ families to recover the $100,000 paid to a trust fund for Olson’s wife Joan..News of the cash payment at the time prompted a public outcry following a botched police investigation. .One of Olson’s lawyers later admitted the mass murderer had already confessed to his crimes before the payment was finalized..Documents from a secret December 16, 1982 cabinet meeting said MacGuigan was upset by the payment. .“He stressed it was recognized practice for police to pay informers who provided information on someone else, but before the Olson case there had been no precedent for paying murderers for evidence against themselves,” said CabinetMinutes. .“The main issue was whether justice was being brought into disrepute, and in this context it was important to consider whether the government had waited too long to take action.”.Cabinet agreed suing Olson to recover the money could result in politically embarrassing cross-examination of justice officials. .“It was noted if the government’s case for recovery was to be based on the principle that the arrangement was contrary to public policy and morality, then the attorney general of British Columbia would have to testify,” said Minutes..“The significance of this aspect should be considered carefully. It was suggested the Minister of Justice might discuss with his colleagues at a future date and before he decided whether or not to proceed, the specific arguments which he proposed to use.”.The cabinet did draft a law to stop a rumoured sale of Olson’s autobiography..“The Solicitor General indicated the sale of the book was expected to yield approximately $400,000 to Olson and his two collaborators, one of whom was a Vancouver lawyer,” said Minutes..“(Solicitor General Robert) Kaplan had the opportunity to read some of the material and there was a definite possibility the book may be judged as obscene,.“He was of the strong view it should not be allowed to be published in Canada, and if it was published in the United States it should not be permitted to be imported into Canada..“Several ministers expressed support for the notion the government take action to ensure the book not be available for sale in Canada.”.Olson died in prison in 2011 at 71..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.,dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/nobby7694
The federal government wanted to sue notorious child killer Clifford Olson to get back the $100,000 paid to him to reveals where his victims were buried, but they backed down for fear of political embarrassment, secret declassified records show..Blacklock’s Reporter said then-Justice Minister Mark MacGuigan came up with the idea after it was learned the RCMP had paid Olson the cash..“The Minister of Justice informed colleagues he was considering whether to bring a lawsuit to recover money paid by the federal government through the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to Clifford Olson in return for information which Olson had provided to the police,” said Cabinet Minutes. .“Mr. MacGuigan stressed the decision was his alone as attorney general, but that he was interested in his colleagues’ views on the matter.”.Olson admitted the tortured and killed 11 children. .The Supreme Court of Canada in 1985 dismissed a lawsuit by victims’ families to recover the $100,000 paid to a trust fund for Olson’s wife Joan..News of the cash payment at the time prompted a public outcry following a botched police investigation. .One of Olson’s lawyers later admitted the mass murderer had already confessed to his crimes before the payment was finalized..Documents from a secret December 16, 1982 cabinet meeting said MacGuigan was upset by the payment. .“He stressed it was recognized practice for police to pay informers who provided information on someone else, but before the Olson case there had been no precedent for paying murderers for evidence against themselves,” said CabinetMinutes. .“The main issue was whether justice was being brought into disrepute, and in this context it was important to consider whether the government had waited too long to take action.”.Cabinet agreed suing Olson to recover the money could result in politically embarrassing cross-examination of justice officials. .“It was noted if the government’s case for recovery was to be based on the principle that the arrangement was contrary to public policy and morality, then the attorney general of British Columbia would have to testify,” said Minutes..“The significance of this aspect should be considered carefully. It was suggested the Minister of Justice might discuss with his colleagues at a future date and before he decided whether or not to proceed, the specific arguments which he proposed to use.”.The cabinet did draft a law to stop a rumoured sale of Olson’s autobiography..“The Solicitor General indicated the sale of the book was expected to yield approximately $400,000 to Olson and his two collaborators, one of whom was a Vancouver lawyer,” said Minutes..“(Solicitor General Robert) Kaplan had the opportunity to read some of the material and there was a definite possibility the book may be judged as obscene,.“He was of the strong view it should not be allowed to be published in Canada, and if it was published in the United States it should not be permitted to be imported into Canada..“Several ministers expressed support for the notion the government take action to ensure the book not be available for sale in Canada.”.Olson died in prison in 2011 at 71..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.,dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/nobby7694
