Parliament In Ottawa Ignores Byron Prior's Plea for Justice

Family Law Reform, Child Protection Concerns Canada, Children's Rights, Justice for Byron Prior, Voice of Youth, Prevent Child Abuse; Government Corruption; Canada's New Government

October 5, 2006

Mr. Norman Doyle
Conservative MP for Newfoundland
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
Tel:(613) 996 7269
Fax: (613) 992 2178

RE: Mr. Byron Prior - Request for a Private Audience with the Justice Minister

Dear Mr. Doyle:

We write on behalf of Mr. Byron Prior, a Canadian citizen and resident of Conception Bay, Newfoundland.

As you are aware, Mr. Prior has been protesting peacefully outside the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa since April 2006 because the disclosures of abuse allegedly perpetrated against him and his siblings by Mr. T.Alex Hickman and others who lived in his home town, have not been investigated over 30 years.

The Minister of Justice, Hon. Mr. Vic Toews, as well as the Prime Minister’s office, have copies of the list of perpetrators who allegedly abused the Prior children. Mr. Prior’s sisters, Joan and Susan, are able to testify as eye witnesses. To date they have been intimidated by the Hickman family and frightened into silence over the decades.
If the Justice Department could offer them protection, they would be able to deliver their affidavits.

It has been seven months since you and your colleagues have personally witnessed Mr. Prior’s presence outside Parliament since April this year. We ask now that some respect be shown by organizing an audience between Minister Toews and Mr. Prior.

Canada’s new government cannot expect us to believe that it takes combating crime seriously if the Justice Minister ignores Mr. Prior’s presence outside his doorstep for seven months.

We have been told by officials in Ottawa that Mr. Prior cannot request this audience himself because he must observe protocol and request that you, the Member of Parliament for Newfoundland, make this request on his behalf.

Mr. Prior is asking that Mr. T.Alex Hickman submit to a DNA test to prove that he did not rape Byron’s sister when she was 12 years old. The child who was allegedly born of this crime, is today in her twenties and allegedly acknowledged by Mr. Hickman.

If the DNA test results positive and it is proven that Mr. Hickman did rape Byron’s sister over twenty years ago when she was twelve, we expect Minister Toews and our government to punish Mr. Hickman and the other alleged perpetrators to the fullest extent of the law.

It is an embarrassment to Canada that a working father and husband from Newfoundland, who alleges that he and his siblings were repeatedly molested and sexually violated over a period of two decades by former Chief Justice Hickman and the other citizens in his home town, must stand before the Houses of Parliament 5 days a week, for seven months, because the legal system has failed to protect him and his family from ongoing suffering as a result of these crimes.

It is unacceptable that your office and the office of the Justice Minister continue ignoring Mr. Prior.

What an eye-opener for the many thousands of tourists who visit the Parliament buildings in Ottawa, to see Byron standing on the lawns with his signs and his information leaflets.
Many visitors to the Hill have left messages for Byron on his website.

We look to Canada’s new government to deliver to the people what Prime Minister Harper promised during the elections: a Canada that takes strong action against criminals.

Stand up for Canada’s Future - Stand up for our Children.

Canada Children First

Family Law Reform, Child Protection Concerns Canada, Children's Rights, Justice for Byron Prior, Voice of Youth, Prevent Child Abuse; Government Corruption; Canada's New Government

Byron Prior is Back on Parliament Hill!

You just can't keep a good man down. Byron Prior is living proof of that. He shares that legend with George Chuvalo, Canada's boxing hero who was never knocked off his feet!

We spoke to Byron in Ottawa - he enjoyed his rest at home with his family, but he is back for the remainder of the year - or at least until Mr. Andrew House or MP Rob Moore indicate that they have made headway in the investigation.