Oct. 22, 2014
Canadian Lawyer – Brett Hughes
Great strides but more work to be done for women: chief justice
Canada’s Chief Justice Madame Beverley McLaughlin delivered the convocation address at UofT’s University of Victoria Charter Day as she and colleague Supreme Court Judge Rosalie Abella received honorary degrees. The Chief Justice recalled the significance of the Person’s case in 1929 and the progress on women’s equity issues since. http://www.canadianlawyermag.com/5326/Great-strides-but-more-work-to-be-done-for-women-chief-justice.html?utm_source=responsys&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CLNewswire_20141020
Toronto Star – Carol Goar
Aboriginal women launch their own anti-violence campaign
Mohawk leader and Executive Director of the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres, Sylvia Maracle is determined to get on with the inquiry into the missing or murdered women with or without the federal government. But she says: “Let’s move beyond the inquiry. Let’s simply acknowledge that there is an alarming rate of violence directed at aboriginal women and do what we can to break the cycle, repair the damage and rebuild healthy communities.” http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2014/10/21/aboriginal_women_launch_their_own_antiviolence_campaign_goar.html
Ottawa Citizen – Dr. Catherine Zahn, CEO of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Legalization is the best approach to cannabis control
Zahn remarks on the current legal failure to control the distribution of marijuana – Canada has one of the highest rates for use in the world – one in ten adults and one in four high school students. Zahn recommends the approach of the recent CAMH report: legalized with strict controls. http://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/catherine-zahn-legalization-is-the-best-approach-to-cannabis-control CAMH Cannabis Policy Framework: (22 page downloadable pdf) http://www.camh.ca/en/hospital/about_camh/influencing_public_policy/Documents/CAMHCannabisPolicyFramework.pdf
Prince George Citizen
Banishment from B.C. community not a charter violation, judge rules
A BC man and resident of Kamloops was banished from the city as part of his probationary order. B.C. Supreme Court Justice Dev Dley refused to rule the punishment for Shane Adam’s offence contrary to the charter. Adam had been found guilty of criminal harassment towards his Kamloops girlfriend and had been sentenced to four months with two years probation, including the banishment. http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/banishment-from-b-c-community-not-a-charter-violation-judge-rules-1.1432867
Anglican Synod (Sydney, AU)
Get children out of detention says Synod
There are some 603 children held in Australian immigration detention sites such as Christmas Island and Nauru. The Synod insists that even if parents are law breakers, the children are not and has announced the Anglican intention to pray for members of government who are charged with immigration matters. http://sydneyanglicans.net/news/get-children-of-of-detention-says-synod Related article: Fox News Latino – Paula Diaz School opened for immigrant kids in New Mexico as detention drags on http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2014/10/20/school-opened-for-immigrant-kids-in-new-mexico-as-detention-drags-on
Embassy – Chris Plecash
Canada’s arms transfers to Iraq a grey area under Arms Trade Treaty
International and domestic observers are wondering why Canada has not ratified a new UN Arms Treaty; already signed by 121 countries, including the US, and ratified by 53, Canada is not a signatory and weapons delivered to Iraq in recent months could be questioned as violations of the new treaty which is effective later this year. Peggy Mason, president of the Rideau Institute and a critic of government military spending, thinks Canada is operating in a grey area. http://www.embassynews.ca/news/2014/10/22/canadas-arms-transfers-to-iraq-a-grey-area-under-arms-trade-treaty/46268
Hamilton Spectator – Susan Clairmont
Many offenders ‘not adequately prepared’ to rejoin society: correctional official
Hamilton’s Community Correctional Centre is due for closure in two months time. But says Howard Sapers, the federal Correctional Investigator, even with the Hamilton site operating – and there are no plans to replace it – the three federal centres are chronically overcrowded. Sapers points out that 71% of inmates are now released at statutory (two thirds sentence served) and many are released directly back into the community without preparation if there are no spaces in half way houses or community centres like the one in Hamilton. Sapers says “graduated, structured release is more successful than releasing offenders directly into the community.” http://www.thespec.com/news-story/4922686-many-offenders-not-adequately-prepared-to-rejoin-society-correctional-official
Globe and Mail – Suzanne Bowness
Workplace violence: Arresting domestic violence at work
Recent focus on violence by professional athletes towards spouses has initiated renewed interest in the incidents of domestic violence and how employers respond. Few seem to have any policies. Those who work in the prevention of domestic violence seem to agree that action in risk management and response to actual incidents can be vital in reducing the problem. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/careers/career-advice/life-at-work/arresting-domestic-violence-at-work/article21205695