MAPLE LEAF COVERS A LOT OF POLITICAL CORRECTNESS

In Canada, an immigrant with "a 32-year criminal record" was caught by a grocer and his friends after stealing $60 worth of plants. The police, it being Toronto, arrested the grocer and two of his friends.

They strip-searched the men and arrested them. They were charged with assault, kidnapping, unlawful confinement and concealing a weapon. The prosecution today dropped two of the charges - the kidnapping and weapons charges against the three men.

Anthony Bennett, thief, pleaded guilty to two counts of theft -- one for stealing from Mr. Chen's store, another for stealing from a flower store on King Street West.

Here's the kicker.

The judge gave Mr. Bennett a reduced sentence -- 30 days in jail instead of the 90 requested by the Crown -- in part because he has agreed to testify against Mr. Chen. It is not uncommon for a judge to impose a sentence less than that requested by the Crown, nor is it out of the ordinary for a judge to take the accused's co-operation with the Crown into account when deciding a sentence.

---

That's Canada for you.