Our honour…

   Nov. 12, 2014

 Toronto Star – Bruce Davis
Fallen soldier was the ‘bon vivant’ of Gananoque  

In an article appropriate to the aftermath of much talk of our honour and Canadian values sustained by the veterans, this reflection by businessman Davis brings us to confront face-to-face the silent needs of the veterans, all too often ignored.  Mental health problems, sometimes leading to suicide, are happening without public notice or response.  http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2014/11/10/fallen_soldier_was_the_bon_vivant_of_gananoque.html

 Ottawa Citizen – Kathryn May
PS (Public Service) jobs disappearing faster than expected, report says 

A new report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) is suggesting how the federal government intends to pay for the election sweets already announce:  37,000 job losses will reduce the capacity of the government services, especially in veteran affairs, Aboriginal affairs, employment insurance, and food safety will all lose 20% plus of their workers.   http://ottawacitizen.com/business/local-business/ps-jobs-disappearing-faster-than-expected-report-says  CCPA full report: David MacDonald and Kayle Hatt     At What Cost?  The Impacts of Rushing to Balance the Budget      https://www.policyalternatives.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/publications/National%20Office/2014/11/At_What_Cost.pdf   Related article:  CBC News     Joe Oliver’s economic update to show razor-thin surplus    http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/joe-oliver-s-economic-update-to-show-razor-thin-surplus-1.2831270   Related article:  Toronto Star – Tim Harper    Federal books are balanced, but the cuts are hitting home    http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/11/11/federal_books_are_balanced_but_the_cuts_are_hitting_home_tim_harper.html

 Salon (US) – Lenore Anderson
America’s criminal justice revolution: How fighting to end mass incarceration united the left and right 

The focus of this article is the chance in the status of California as a leader in practices building mass incarceration to a state trying to unwind the impact.  The effort – called Prop 47 – was in part successful because Democrats and Republicans could agree the system was costing too much and not doing what the originators suggested.  The article looks at the anticipated impact of the change on other jurisdictions.  http://www.salon.com/2014/11/11/americas_criminal_justice_revolution_how_ending_mass_incarceration_united_the_left_and_right

 Toronto Star – Jennifer Bond
Ottawa ignores rule of law in refugee health cuts case 

Explicitly ordered by the courts to restore the medical services to immigrants and refugees, the federal government has decided to ignore the court order and respond only to certain cases involving women and children.  Ignoring the rule of law in Canada as established by both a federal court and later an appeal for a stay in the ordered deadline of Nov. 4 is a new high water mark for the confrontation between the federal conservatives and the courts.  http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2014/11/11/ottawa_ignores_rule_of_law_in_refugee_health_cuts_case.html#    Related article: Globe and Mail – Kelly Grant     Ottawa to limit power of Canada’s top doctor     http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-to-limit-power-of-canadas-top-doctor-the-chief-public-health-officer/article21550260

 The Star Phoenix (Regina) – Douglas Quan, Postmedia News
Correctional service rapped for inaction on jury probe   

Ashley Smith died in 2007 and the coroner’s inquest declared the death a homicide over a year ago.  The jury delivered 104 recommendations and the government itself introduced a new program to get mental help for women inmates.  Neither has gotten off the ground says Mary Campbell, a former director general of corrections and criminal justice at Public Safety Canada.  Smith’s lawyer, Julian Falconer thinks that CSC needs an impartial but outside agency to prompt it to action.   http://www.thestarphoenix.com/health/Correctional+service+rapped+inaction+jury+probe/10373545/story.html

 Columbus Dispatch (Ohio)
Legislation introduced adding secrecy to executions 

Faced with controversy over the acquisition of lethal drugs for state executions, the state has introduced legislation to keep secret everything about the purchase of the drugs.  The secrecy would apply to supplies, even if they are already local state drug program suppliers, the process, the personnel and even the medical doctor supervising.  Republican state legislators are pushing for passage by the end of the current year for an execution currently halted from its Feb. 15, 2015 date.  http://www.dispatch.com/content/blogs/the-daily-briefing/2014/11/11.10.2014-execution-secrets.html   Related article: Journal Star (Oregon) – Nicholas Bergin   Former Oregon warden warns of botched executions and toll on prison staff     http://journalstar.com/news/local/former-oregon-warden-warns-of-botched-executions-and-toll-on/article_581da19b-7f07-56b9-b84f-46262d5a1af6.html

 Globe and Mail – Angela Campbell
We condemn attacks on women at work, unless it’s sex work 

Given the maelstrom around sexual assaults on the Hill this week, Campbell raises a very sensible question: Is assault of sex workers by those who buy sex the same as assault by fellow MP’s on the Hill?  Says Campbell:  “How, then, in the same week that Canadians were so publicly incensed about workplace harassment and abuse, could a new law (C-36) that promises to sustain violence in a work context for a particular class of women move quietly through the Senate?”  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/we-condemn-attacks-on-women-at-work-unless-its-sex-work/article21533142