Mayor blames lenient court system

The violent beating of a woman in Pangnirtung last Monday was “just waiting to happen,” said mayor Jack Maniapik.

Lenient sentences for repeat offenders are contributing to violent crime, and creating a culture of hardened criminals who don’t fear punishment, Maniapik said.

“It seems like the accused has more rights than the victim,” he said.

“I heard… somebody saying Inuit are very forgiving people. It’s not necessarily true. We’re like everyone. We might forgive someone a small crime they did, but not a major crime. If somebody verbally shouts at me and if we apologize to each other, I’ll forgive whoever for that incident, but with the violent crime, I have a hard time, and I try to be a very forgiving person,” Maniapik said.

“I think I’m talking on behalf of all Nunavut and Nunavik, because I listen to the radio and there’s some violent crimes down there too. It looks like it’s not going to stop until we get really tough from the courts.”