Nov. 14, 2014
Global TV News
‘We’ve been dropping like flies’: Soldier speaks out about mental health in the military
Forty-two year old Petty Officer 2nd Class Kerry Houghton describes what it was like for her as she suffered through bouts of depression and thoughts of suicide when she was told her illness meant she was no longer deployable. http://globalnews.ca/news/1665669/weve-been-dropping-like-flies-soldier-speaks-out-about-mental-health-in-the-military Related article: Vancouver Sun – Mike Pond A new call to arms: Fund our soldiers’ mental health http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Mike+Pond+call+arms+Fund+soldiers+mental+health/10367360/story.html
iPolitics.com – Linda McQuaig
The rich are getting richer — and faster than you think
McQuaig is looking at how the wealth of the top layers is reported and suggests that income as reported by income tax forms is not a correct measure since so many are using private corporations where additional income is not reported. Says McQuaig: “For example, according to commonly-used data, the average income for Canadians in the top 1 per cent is $359,900. However, this doesn’t include money channelled through their private corporations. Once we include this additional income, the actual average income of these high-rollers rises to a much heftier $500,200.” http://www.ipolitics.ca/2014/11/12/the-rich-are-getting-richer-and-faster-than-you-think
Charity Village (Saskatoon) – Elisa Birnbaum
Investing in the non-profit sector: The Social Impact Bond makes its Canadian debut
Known as a Social Impact Bond or SIB, the process replaces government social funding with private investments from business, banks, individuals. Lars Boggild, Vice President at Finance for Good, a social impact bond intermediary says: “The innovation is the outcomes-based financing because that’s ultimately where exciting things happen when we think about incentives and opportunities.” https://charityvillage.com/Content.aspx?topic=Investing_in_the_nonprofit_sector_The_Social_Impact_Bond_makes_its_Canadian_debut#.VGZM_snej3t
Toronto Star Editorial
Toronto police must be made to follow rules on ‘carding’
Carding, the practice of police stopping people for no reason and noting their personal information for police files, was supposed to stop. And it has – but not in the Jane-Finch, a largely Black population area. Shades of Ferguson, New Jersey? Since an August review, the policy revision requires a reason for stopping people. Civilian control of police practices and relations with those residents is at risk. http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2014/11/12/toronto_police_must_be_made_to_follow_rules_on_carding_editorial.html#
Globe and Mail – Sean Fine
Split court backs police’s powers to share wiretaps with foreign nations
The Supreme Court of Canada has trouble coming to a conclusion about whether it is constitutional for a police force to share wiretap info without the consent of a judge, even if the wiretap is with judicial approval. Seven justices were involved, three said no sharing, three said sharing, and one ruled only on the specific case on appeal before the Court, saying that not every case needed to involve a constitutional issue. The current criminal code wiretap provisions remain in place. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/top-court-backs-polices-powers-to-share-wiretaps-with-foreign-nations/article21586257
Globe and Mail – Bob Rae
The courts have spoken on aboriginal rights. Governments must act
Rae points out that since the Calder case in 1973, Aboriginals have been winning court challenges in a large number of cases. What is equally apparent is that there are considerable lags between the court ruling and compliance, if any, by both provincial and federal governments. Says Rae: “The reason for the lack of leadership is not hard to figure out – it has everything to do with a read of public opinion itself… It has been said that good public policy is what happens when all the alternatives have been exhausted. Enough already. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/the-courts-have-spoken-on-aboriginal-rights-governments-must-act/article21585198
The Whig.com – Stephanie Claivaz-Loranger and Anne Marie DiCenso
Lack of needle exchange in federal prison a costly policy for inmate health, taxpayers
According to Howard Sapers, the Correctional Investigator, 80% of those entering the federal prison system have substance abuse problems. Inmates are entitled to a level of health care available to any one else who is not incarcerated. “The unfortunate reality, as emphasized by the Correctional Investigator, is that federally-sentenced prisoners in Canada generally have more multifaceted health needs, including a higher prevalence of HIV and hepatitis C (HCV). These infections come with high price tags, literally and figuratively, both for taxpayers footing the bill and the affected individual who must bear the real cost of chronic illness.” Needle exchange is a simple and internationally accepted solution to high HIV and hepatitis C rates. http://www.thewhig.com/2014/11/12/lack-of-needle-exchange-in-federal-prison-a-costly-policy-for-inmate-health-taxpayers