Feb. 5, 2001: According to CBC Canada Now, today the Sask Party spent a day in Regina at the legislature in a strategy session. High on their list of important issues were Health and Education. Justice wasn't high enough on the list to rate a mention on the newsreport.

In December, we left a message on the Saskatchewan Party website. We received this reply:

January 22, 2001

Ms Sheila Steele Email (injusticebusters@shaw.ca)

Dear Ms Steele:

On behalf of the Saskatchewan Party, I would like to thank you for your e-mail regarding the Fifth Estate program that aired a couple of months ago.

At the outset, I feel it is necessary to let you know I have not had the opportunity to see the program. However I do recall the case from many years ago. I agree with you that this situation raised many questions.

At issue here is the complete failure of Saskatchewan's justice system and many people's lives ruined due to false accusations. As the Official Opposition, we are very concerned about this situation. With cases such as David Milgaard and the Klassen's, one has to wonder if our justice system is in need of major revamping. I want to assure you that we will be questioning the Department of Justice on this and many other issues to ensure that the people of Saskatchewan can rely on their justice system when they need it.

Thank you again for sharing your thoughts with the Saskatchewan Party and passing along the Injustice Busters website.

Yours sincerely,

Elwin Hermanson

Leader of the Official Opposition

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Opposition demands inquiry into justice system's woes: Foster child case among recent examples of problems plaguing system: Hermanson

By Leslie Perreaux, StarPhoenix, Jan. 26, 2001

The provincial government should call an independent judicial inquiry into mounting evidence that something is wrong with the Saskatchewan justice system, according to Saskatchewan Party Leader Elwin Hermanson.

From Milgaard to Martensville, the original Latimer trial to the foster child case, evidence is building that the Saskatchewan justice system is susceptible to injustice, Hermanson said in an interview Thursday.

"Saskatchewan seems to have more than its fair share of these things. Is there something about our justice system that needs some revamping? Do we need to move some bodies out of some places of responsibility to get this problem fixed so that it doesn't happen so often?" Hermanson said.

"A public inquiry may be what is required and it seems like a reasonable request."

The most recent case to resurface to public attention is the foster child case. In 1991, 16 people were charged with 60 counts of sexually abusing three foster children.

In the end, one conviction stood. An elderly man agreed to plead guilty and serve prison time in exchange for prosecutors dropping charges against the other accused people.

Twelve of the people are now suing police and prosecutors for at least $10 million.

The foster children have since admitted they fabricated the allegations. The children have also said authorities were aware that one of the children was abusing his two sisters.

The city and the Justice Department have gone to court asking a judge to limit what can be published about the case by a Web site dedicated to revealing details.

"There is mounting evidence, a number of cases, that reinforce the concern that this case wasn't just an unavoidable accident. There just is not proper conduct, care and professionalism within the Saskatchewan justice system to ensure the opportunity for this happening is minimized," Hermanson said.

In the Martensville case, 173 charges were laid against nine people. Those charged included police officers from Martensville and Saskatoon. Ultimately one person was convicted on one charge. Prosecutors proceeded with that case despite an RCMP report that warned that some of the accused may be innocent.

Robert Latimer, now sentenced to life in prison for killing his disabled daughter, had his first conviction overturned because RCMP officers and a Crown prosecutor screened his jurors.

David Milgaard served 23 years in prison for a murder he didn't commit. Serial rapist Larry Fisher was convicted of the crime in 1999, seven years after Milgaard was released from prison. The government has promised an inquiry into that case after Fisher has exhausted his appeals.

Justice Minister John Nilson could not be reached for comment Thursday.