9°c Partly cloudy
19°c Variable cloudiness
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Fleury calls Canada 'Disneyland' for predators
Theo Fleury
TORONTO -- Former NHL star Theo Fleury is taking aim at Canada's justice system, saying the country's weak penalties for sexual abuse make it a "Disneyland for pedophiles."
The Stanley Cup and Olympic gold-medal-winning forward -- a longtime advocate for victims of sexual abuse -- has launched a new campaign demanding Ottawa beef up sentences for those convicted of abusing children.
Fleury, who was sexually abused by disgraced hockey coach Graham James while playing for him in the 1980s, said the justice system "re-victimizes" those who have suffered from child abuse by being too lenient on the perpetrators.
He's pushing for a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison for each count of sexual abuse, to be served consecutively.
He also wants legal repercussions for anyone who doesn't report incidents of sexual abuse.
The former Calgary Flame hopes to shore up support for the cause by walking from Toronto to Parliament Hill in Ottawa between May 14 and 23 of next year, an event he's dubbed the Victor Walk.
Aside from pressuring government, Fleury said the walk aims to raise money for groups and organizations that provide support for "victims, survivors (and) victors."
"I'm tired of people being re-victimized through the system and it absolutely has to stop," said Fleury, who considers child sexual abuse an "epidemic."
"I believe that my real legacy isn't hockey but the fight against child sexual abuse."
-- The Canadian Press
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 7, 2012 A18
More Canada
- Back to Top
- Return to Canada
Poll
Most Popular Canada
- Abrupt departure for Mayor Rob Ford's chief of staff amid 'crack video' scandal
- Woman run over three times by her own car
- Second suspect in test drive killing charged with first-degree murder
- Charges laid against three in Canada Revenue Agency fraud investigation
- Could have accepted chief of staff's resignation sooner, Harper admits
- Two men now facing first-degree murder charges in Tim Bosma test drive death
- Rob Ford's chief of staff out of office as 'crack video' scandal swirls
- Ottawa threatens 'retaliatory measures' over new U.S. meat labelling regulations
- 'I want him to suffer,' mother of teen boy says after captor pleads guilty
- Purse stolen from woman who died in Toronto subway station: police
- Crack-cocaine video allegations 'ridiculous,' Toronto Mayor Rob Ford says
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Two men now facing first-degree murder charges in Tim Bosma test drive death
- Mother cries, yells as driver appears in court charged with killing boy on patio
- Harper to be on hot seat at Tuesday caucus after chief of staff quits
- Toronto mayor stays silent about alleged crack video as Trudeau, Wynne weigh in
- Baird takes the heat, Harper sheds little light on Senate spending scandal
- Abrupt departure for Mayor Rob Ford's chief of staff amid 'crack video' scandal
- Canadian and American missing for nearly two weeks in Mexico
- Woman run over three times by her own car
- First-degree murder charge to be laid in test drive death; remains badly burned
- Multiple fatalities after serious crash near U.S. border
- Canadian tourist dies after falling from hotel in Mexican resort
- Crack-cocaine video allegations 'ridiculous,' Toronto Mayor Rob Ford says
- Arrest made in case of Hamilton, Ont., man missing after pickup truck test drive
- Leaving Saskatoon: police mourn homeless drunk they considered a friend
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Man with no arms plans to fight seatbelt ticket, wants apology from police
- Two men now facing first-degree murder charges in Tim Bosma test drive death
- Mother cries, yells as driver appears in court charged with killing boy on patio
- Ottawa threatens 'retaliatory measures' over new U.S. meat labelling regulations
- Second suspect in test drive killing charged with first-degree murder
- Woman run over three times by her own car
- Canada lifts lifetime ban on gay men giving blood, but some restrictions remain
- Blood-donation ban lifted for gay men
- Abrupt departure for Mayor Rob Ford's chief of staff amid 'crack video' scandal
- Supreme Court won't hear immunity claim from former Quebec Lt.-Gov.
- Charges laid against three in Canada Revenue Agency fraud investigation
- CRTC hits Alberta's Wildrose Party with $90,000 fine for robocalls in 2011, 2012
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Ottawa threatens 'retaliatory measures' over new U.S. meat labelling regulations
- Quake near Ottawa rattles residents across wide swath of Ontario, Quebec
- Secret CSIS source, allied intelligence cited in high-profile terror case
- The Gretzky of Gretzky collectors
- Canadian and American missing for nearly two weeks in Mexico
- Grade 5 kids urge Harper to drop mean attack ads against Justin Trudeau
- Harper government buying ads to promote job grant program that doesn't yet exist
- Toronto, eh? Late-night TV cracks up audiences with jibes at Mayor Rob Ford
- Second suspect in test drive killing charged with first-degree murder
- U.S. bill would give Canadian snowbirds more time to spend in the sun
- 'Revenge of the redheads': Ginger-haired Montrealers gather in celebration
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Man with no arms plans to fight seatbelt ticket, wants apology from police
- Leaving Saskatoon: police mourn homeless drunk they considered a friend
- Commanding officer of Canadian Forces base in Alberta charged with sex assault
- Duffy bailout by Harper's chief of staff prompts allegations of coverup by PMO
- Ottawa threatens 'retaliatory measures' over new U.S. meat labelling regulations
- What's snot OK with eating your own boogers?
- Prince Philip presented with Order of Canada during royal visit to Toronto
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.