Well, you know how quite possibly no charges will be laid against Bill Cosby because the statute of limitations had run out?
In Canada, there is no statute of limitations on rape/sexual assault. (So if you rape a six year old and he can’t recover, process events, or speak out till he’s 16, it still counts!)
Also, when Jian Gomeshi, a long beloved, high profile celebrity was accused of violence and sexual assault, we believed the women. That’s kind of an opposite too!
What, besides the fact that we’re a monarchy and they’re a republic?
There is at least one significant difference in our laws respecting First Nations. In 1763, the British issued a Royal Proclamation, which put significant restrictions on the acquisistion of land from Indians. It barred private parties from buying land from Indians, and provided that all land transactions had to be done through the Crown. The purpose of this approach was to protect Indians from fraudulent land transfers, and to keep the peace between Indians and settlers, because fraudulent land transfers were the source of many grievances, which could flare up into open conflict.
In the 13 colonies, particularly Virginia, this policy was heavily criticised, because it was seen as blocking westward expansion. It became one of the grievances in the Declaration of Independence, and following independence, the Royal Proclamation ceased to have any legal effect in the United States.
Just the opposite occurred in Canada. The British and Canadian governments have followed the principles set out in the Royal Proclamation in subsequent dealings with the First Nations, so that much of Canada is covered by Treaties which govern aboriginal land title. The principles of the Royal Proclamation is so important that the Proclamation has been protected in our Constitution.
Comparing Jian Ghomeshi to Bill Cosby is like comparing your bathtub to the Atlantic Ocean. Twelve months ago most Canadians didn’t know who Jian Ghomeshi was. Bill Cosby is arguably the most famous comedian in the history of the visual arts.
I don’t know where you get your news but public opinion in the USA has been against Cosby more or less from the moment this story exploded. Ghomeshi got just as many limited “well, nothing’s been proven” defences as Cosby did.
You hint at the key difference but missed the target …likely because of the major difference being outside the context you are used to. The Cosby statue of limitations issue was not federal law in the US. It was state law. That nationwide criminal code versus a split between state/federal criminal jurisdictions is the big difference on crossing the border. It drove a Canadian citizen I knew that was living here bonkers when she’d ask a legal question “about the US” assuming that it was somehow uniform nationally. There’s 50 different answers on whether a statute of limitations exists for rape and if so how long the period is. In many states it varies between minor and adult victims of the crime. There’s not a US answer to compare to Canada’s answer.
There’s fundamental differences between US states and Canadian provinces that pops up other places as well.
I was not attempting to equate Cosby and Gomeshi. (But you knew that!;))
And nobody is defending Gomeshi around here, mostly because they believe the women. I’m not seeing any of the moral gymnastics that can be seen, right on this board, concerning Cosby.
Even the people who, in early days stood up for him, friends, colleagues, former band mates, have all backed away from their initial comments.
and which the 