UNLIKE some of his constituents, West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country MP John Weston returned from a trip to Mexico last week without a suntan.
Weston accompanied Canadian Governor General David Johnston to the inauguration of Mexico's new leader, President Enrique Peña Nieto Dec. 1.
"And which legislators were invited? Four US Congressmen, Minister of State for International Affairs Diane Ablonczy and myself," said Weston in a press release. Weston was invited based on his role as president of the Canada-Mexico Joint Parliamentary Council or "friendship group," promoting co-operation between members of parliament from both countries.
In light of North Vancouver man Pavel Kulisek's three-year incarceration without trial in Mexico on charges that were eventually dropped for lack of evidence, Weston says he is working toward a more transparent Mexican justice system.
"I resolved to do what I could as a legislator to ensure Canadians in Mexico would be treated more fairly," said Weston.
Weston said $8 million of Canadian foreign aid has already been invested in professionalizing the police and judiciary in Mexico.
"No one is saying that the Canadian criminal justice system is perfect, but Mexican people in search of improving their system are picking and choosing from us," said Weston. Some 1.8 million Canadians visit México annually.
