Wally Oppal, Attorney General of BCFor the third time in a year, BC Attorney General Wally Oppal (at right) has hired a special prosecutor to review the case file on the openly polygamous Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints colony at Bountiful, BC.  The first two, Richard Peck and Leonard Doust, argued against laying polygamy charges and suggested that the polygamy law itself be referred to the courts for a verdict on its constitutionality.

Mr Oppal freely admits that he disagrees with that recommendation, so he’s engaged Terrence Robertson to review the file one more time.  He’s apparently hoping that the third time will prove lucky.

In his directions to Robertson, Oppal wrote that he disagreed with Peck's analysis that a prosecution would likely not succeed and he disagreed with Doust's conclusion that prosecution would be unfair.

"It is my opinion that the Criminal Justice Branch is mistaken in its belief that s. 293 of the Criminal Code is unconstitutional," Oppal, a former Court of Appeal justice wrote. "Both Mr. Doust and Mr. Peck believe s. 293 [the section of Canada’s Criminal Code outlawing polygamy] to be constitutionally valid legislation. A valid criminal law is and should be enforced. To not do so is appropriate and is not unfair."

Bountiful leader and polygamist Winston Blackmore cries foul.

A B.C. religious leader who openly admits to having numerous wives and dozens of children is accusing the province's attorney general of religious persecution.

Winston Blackmore, one of two religious leaders of the polygamous community of Bountiful, said Wally Oppal appears determined to involve himself and his government in religious persecution against members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

"I’m being persecuted", he hollers, even though the government hasn’t actually done anything yet.  Is he laying the groundwork for a complaint to the BC Human Rights Tribunal?

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