Pubdate: Thu, 07 Aug 2014 Source: Province, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2014 Postmedia Network Inc. Contact: http://www2.canada.com/theprovince/letters.html Website: http://www.theprovince.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476 Author: Keith Fraser Page: A10 FEDERAL JUSTICE MINISTER ACTED 'UNREASONABLY' TOWARD ALLEGED DRUG-RING NEGOTIATOR: COURT An order by the federal justice department that the alleged B.C. negotiator for a major cross-border drug-trafficking organization surrender himself for extradition has been set aside by the B.C. Court of Appeal. In a ruling released Wednesday, B.C.'s highest court said the justice minister acted "unreasonably" and in a procedurally "unfair" way in considering the "grave" medical condition of James Gregory Cameron. In her reasons for judgment, B.C. Court of Appeal Justice Nicole Garson noted that Cameron was given notice on Aug. 23, 2013 that the minister would be relying on United States prison medical guidelines to decide on whether to order him to surrender himself for extradition. The minister told Cameron to make any further submissions by Sept. 26 but before that could be done, ordered that Cameron be surrendered for extradition on Sept. 4, noted Garson. "In my opinion, the Minister acted unreasonably and in a procedurally unfair way in failing to permit Mr. Cameron time to respond," she noted. Cameron told the court that he suffers from severe diabetes as well as depression and ADHD, and argued that his medical problems might not be dealt with appropriately under the guidelines. Garson set aside the minister's surrender order and ordered that Cameron be given an opportunity to make further submissions to the minister on his health issues. In the same ruling, Garson upheld a decision by the extradition judge to order that Cameron be committed for extradition. Cameron's lawyer had argued that the extradition judge erred by declining to consider his application for a stay of proceedings, as the evidence indicated his medical problems were due to a delay by the U.S. in seeking the extradition. Cameron also argued that there was not enough evidence identifying him as the negotiator in the drug conspiracy. But Garson rejected those arguments and upheld the committal order, which marked the first stage in the extradition process. Justices Mary Saunders and Anne MacKenzie agreed with Garson. Cameron was one of a number of B.C. men arrested and sought for extradition in connection with the drug conspiracy. U.S. authorities say the drug-trafficking organization transported and delivered large amounts of marijuana and ecstasy to the United States, using vehicles and helicopters. In exchange, large amounts of cocaine were then brought back into Canada. The allegations date back to 2007 and 2008. In May, Colin Martin, the alleged B.C. kingpin of the organization, was ordered extradited to the United States. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom