June 25, 2014
Globe and Mail – Eden Robinson
How Gateway stokes a simmering fury among B.C. natives
Here’s an explanation for the bitter resentment of BC Coastal Aboriginals around the Gateway pipeline. The author belongs to a small first nations group in the Kitamaat area. Her roots and her parents are found in two first nations groups who are bringing Enbridge to court and who were not allowed to vote in the recent plebiscite that rejected the pipeline. The viewpoint is as local as you can get but also very negative against the neglect of both Enbridge and the Harper government. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/how-gateway-stokes-a-simmering-fury-among-bc-natives/article19286962
The Guardian (UK) – Vincent Aviani
Refugee Crisis Highest Numbers since World War II
Across the globe, refugees are growing exponentially to the highest numbers – 51.2 million – since the migrations from the Second World War. Most would attribute the growing numbers to the increase in armed conflict, particularly in the Middle East where the Syrian tensions alone have generated more than eight million refuges. “We are seeing the costs of wars and conflict,” said Antonio Guterres, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. http://guardianlv.com/2014/06/refugee-crisis-highest-numbers-since-world-war-ii/#T8AK9foxVPk9Qvkm.99 Related article: CBC News (NF) – Refugee claimant? Go to any province but N.L., advocate says http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/refugee-claimant-go-to-any-province-but-n-l-advocate-says-1.2683899
National Newswatch – Jonathan Sas
Youth unemployment: a dismal situation requires bold action
Early summer reports on employment for the 15-24 year olds are dismal with one in seven unemployed and many more under-employed. There is a lack of rebound post-recession, the diminishment of funding and participation in government programs and a lack of investment by capital rich corporations who simply are not hiring. http://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2014/06/23/youth-unemployment-a-dismal-situation-requires-bold-action/#.U6gmYfldVHQ Related article: The Mainlander – Harsha Walia Why everyone should care about the Temporary Foreign Worker Program http://themainlander.com/2014/06/23/why-everyone-should-care-about-the-temporary-foreign-worker-program
Ottawa Citizen – David Reevely
Cruelty at Ottawa jail, hydro overbilling feature in ombudsman’s report
Ontario Ombudsman Andre Marin has a forceful assessment of the treatment of inmates at the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre: “extreme cruelty.” The comments follow several more incidents in which inmates were denied health care, including one in which an inmate with a broken femur was picked up and carried to his cell. The incident was captured on the internal security cameras but Marin is equally grieved over a code of silence among guards. http://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/reevely-cruelty-at-ottawa-jail-hydro-overbilling-feature-in-ombudsmans-report
Canada.com – Peter O’Neil, Vancouver Sun
Supreme Court of Canada ruling will be ‘milestone’ in aboriginal rights jurisprudence
With the additional links, the article brings focus into the importance of a land claim case now before the Supreme Court. The Vickers ruling was denied by the BC Court of Appeal and the SCC will now determine if the Chilcotin have a legitimate specific ownership claim over an area important to the Gateway route. http://www.canada.com/business/Supreme+Court+Canada+ruling+will+milestone+aboriginal+rights/9970838/story.html Related article: Vancouver Sun – Peter O’Neil Five landmark cases in Canadian jurisprudence on aboriginal rights http://www.canada.com/news/Five+landmark+cases+Canadian+jurisprudence+aboriginal+rights/9970994/story.html
Toronto Star – Editorial
Give homeless a decent place and savings may follow
Housing First is an organization with a pointed message. If you first look after housing needs for the homeless, then you make all services easier and cheaper than if services are piecemeal. A new study in five Canadian cities Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal and Moncton) confirms the prognosis with falling hospitalization rates, fewer arrests and brushes with the law, and declining shelter use. http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2014/06/24/give_homeless_a_decent_place_and_savings_may_follow_editorial.html Link to full report (48 page downloadable pdf) National Final Report:Cross-Site At Home/Chez Soi Project http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/system/files/private/document/mhcc_at_home_report_national_cross-site_eng_2.pdf
Office of the Correctional Investigator and National Associations Active in Criminal Justice (NAACJ)
Ed McIsaac Human Rights in Corrections Award
The award, established in 2008, is named for a former correctional investigator and current director of the Smart Justice Network board. Closing date is Aug. 15 and the award is announced around Human Rights Day (Dec. 8). The award nomination may be from an individual or an organization but not from a relative. The nomination should include:
●name, address and telephone number of the candidate;
● names, addresses and telephone numbers of the sponsor(s); and
● a detailed description of the candidate’s accomplishments under each of the criteria, including relevant documents (e.g., publications, letters of support, awards, press clippings).
This award commemorates the work and dedication of Mr. Ed McIsaac and honours those who demonstrate a similar lifelong commitment to improving corrections and protecting the human rights of the incarcerated. The award is presented annually to a person or an organization. Award recipients are those whose social justice commitment and persistent efforts have contributed significantly to the advancement of human rights and correctional practice in Canada. The 2013 recipient of the Ed McIsaac Human Rights in Corrections Award was Mr. Graham Stewart, former Executive Director of John Howard Canada.
This information must be submitted by August 15th, 2014 to: Ed McIsaac Human Rights in Corrections Award Secretariat Office of the Correctional Investigator, P.O. Box 3421, Station “D” Ottawa ON K1P 6L4
Info and forms at: http://www.oci-bec.gc.ca/cnt/award-prix/nom-eng.aspx