TORONTO — Ontario’s top court ruled Friday that two men should not be extradited to the United States to face drug charges because of their aboriginal status.
“It would be contrary to the principles of fundamental justice” to send the men to the U.S., where their heritage would not be factored in to sentencing, the way it is in Canada, the Appeal Court ruled.
Factors under what is known as the Gladue principle are considered in Canadian law to try to offset systemic discrimination against aboriginal people.
The justice minister didn’t properly take these factors into account when he ordered Zachary Leonard and Rejean Gionet extradited, and for that he was wrong, the court ruled.
via Aboriginal status leads to refusal of extradition | The Chronicle Herald.
