Affidavit of Michael Bear - Phoenix Sinclair Inquiry

~ Possible curfew legislation — enforcing curfew breaches
~ Enforcement of breach of conditions
~ Surveillance
~ More aggressive investigation re Johns
Intelligence
gathering
[39] These are merely examples to be supplemented by those experienced
in dealing with this problem. Hopefully such discussion will result in new
innovative plans to attack this problem.
[40] Such an approach is not without precedent. In 1978 I was a founding
member of the Provincial Child Abuse Committee which was created
because of the frustration in investigating and prosecuting child abuse cases
involving young children. Some of the same roadblocks were present — lack
of testimony evidence, lack of coordination of resources, lack of a multidisciplinary
approach, etc. One would be amazed at the changes in this area,
mainly due to evidentiary and legal changes in the Criminal Code and a
multi-disciplinary approach from all the disciplines concerned with the
protection of children.
[41] In my view such a renewed effort will only have success if it is part of
a multi-disciplinary dedicated unit specifically to use their knowledge,
information and all the legislative support available. Only if this becomes a
priority involving everyone dedicated to the protection of children will it
have a chance for success. Obviously "dedicated" and "priority" entails a
unit that is properly resourced and supported perhaps by a variety of
agencies and disciplines. The evidence at the inquest showed a great variety
of dedicated people who by exchange of information, proper resources and
singular focus could make a huge difference in this area.
[42] Such a Task Force created specifically for this task — the sexual
exploitation of youth — properly resourced will in a very short time, in my
view, be able to create the necessary tools for a more proactive approach to
this problem.
[43] Tracia Owen, as we will see, had a myriad of problems. In some
the "typical" young person caught up in the drug
ways she represented
culture and being sexually exploited — hoping her problems would all go
away.
[44] Finally, hand in hand in getting and keeping these youths off the street
and from being exploited, it is necessary to provide the necessary support.