January 31, 2013
Toronto Star – Tonda MacCharles
Stephen Harper: More tough-on-crime bills coming
From 2010-2011, crime has fallen by 6%. In January, Vic Toews hosted a meeting trying to get policing costs under control: the costs have doubled from $6 billion to $12 billion in the last ten years. No details, no budget, just more tough-on-crime promised because Canadians are asking for it! http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/01/30/stephen_harper_more_toughoncrime_bills_coming.html
Globe and Mail – Steven Chase
Harper speech focuses Tories on four key areas
Chase reports on four areas for the Tory agenda and what each will mean in legislation: immigration, crime, the economy, and families. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/harper-speech-focuses-tories-on-four-key-areas/article8027904
Globe and Mail – Sheema Khan
Let’s work together to prevent crimes of ‘honour’
From 1999 to 2009, there have been 16 women murdered in so- called ‘honour-killings, the latest in Kingston claiming three daughters and a first wife. Khan is looking for a better response than cosmetic changes to an immigrant’s guide. She wants a robust prevention program such as the one in a London, Ontario, Muslim Center, added to the criminal prosecution. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/lets-work-together-to-prevent-crimes-of-honour/article7975778
CBC News – Katy O’Malley
Ethics watchdog pushes for more power to punish lawbreakers
Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson was due to appear before the Ethics Committee today (Jan 30) as the start of a five year review of the Conflict of Interest Act. It didn’t happen but Ms Dawson obligingly released her initial proposed comments to the committee. She has eight priorities for consideration. http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/inside-politics-blog/2013/01/ethics-watchdog-pushes-for-more-power-to-punish-lawbreakers.html Full text of the report: http://www.scribd.com/doc/123054352/Ethics-Commissioner-Mary-Dawson
CTV Atlantic:
Eyebrows raised over pets for prison
The Nova Scotia Justice Department has spent $26K to provide pets for prisoners program in N.S. The report stirring some controversy is a 2 ½ minute video. http://www.ctvnews.ca/video?playlistId=1.1136675
CTV News
Federal government ordered to turn over residential school files
In keeping with transparent agreement language, Ontario Court Justice Stephen Goudge has ordered the federal government to turn over literally millions of documents to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/federal-government-ordered-to-turn-over-residential-school-files-1.1136555#ixzz2JWSoYdEQ
Evening Times (Scotland)
Easterhouse has sound idea to beat gangs
Easterhouse is about music and about using social enterprise to create jobs among youth. Says Music Co-ordinator Ross Ferguson: “Youth unemployment is a major problem, so why not use music to try and give people jobs?” http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/easterhouse-has-sound-idea-to-beat-gangs-114207n.20035030
Graham Stewart comments on yesterday’s ICCLR article on Mental Health and the Criminal Justice System:
“The report available at the URL below should be mandatory reading by anyone interested in measures that address mental health and criminal justice. The report is brief, thorough and evidence focused. It is a very good reference and training aid particularly for anyone planning new initiatives or wanting to refine existing initiatives.” http://www.icclr.law.ubc.ca/files/2013/Mental%20Illness%20and%20the%20Criminal%20Justice%20System%20%5BFinal%20w-disclaimer%5D.pdf