Jan 10, 2015
Globe and Mail – Eva Marszewski
How restorative justice re-connects fairness to justice
Marszewski, the founder of Peace Builders Canada and a professor at Osgood Law Faculty, offers a guest editorial and RJ take on the Dalhousie dental scene. “One of the most important reasons that restorative justice has gained global recognition and respect is that it gives a real voice and choice of process to victims of wrongdoing, something that the justice system continues to be woefully incapable of providing,” says Marszewski. “On a deeper level, restorative justice attempts to re-connect fairness to justice and in doing so, it repairs relationships.” http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/how-restorative-justice-re-connects-fairness-to-justice/article22375801
iPolitics.com – Steve Sullivan
Lies, damn lies and crime statistics
Sullivan, Canada’s first Ombudsman for Victims of Crime, offers a critique of the debate around evidenced based policy making and who is responsible for the dropping crime rates. Sullivan thinks a sentencing commission to review the practices of the courts and make recommendations to government may work better in the current political stand off on tough on crime and mandatory sentences. http://www.ipolitics.ca/2015/01/08/lies-damn-lies-and-crime-statistics
Globe and Mail – Simona Chiose
Dalhousie board calls emergency meeting; independent inquiry urged
The Board of Governors of Dalhousie are apparently ready to convene a special meeting to confront the situation of discipline for the 13 dental students before classes resume on Jan. 12. The provincial government also acknowledges that it is leaving the matter to Dalhousie but watching the developments. The Dalhousie Senate is considering a third party independent investigation “to probe broader issues.” http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/dalhousie-board-calls-emergency-meeting-independent-inquiry-urged/article22372362
Eglinton St. George’s United Church Series – A Justice System for a Just Society –
Speaking series: An Assault on the Honourable Tradition of Chaplaincy in the Correctional Services
Kate Johnson of Kingston is a former chaplain in the system at a time when considerable change has taken place. She reflects on the consequent changes in the rehabilitative and re-integration practices impacted by those changes.
St. George’s United Church – Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015 at 12:30
35 Lytton Bvld, Toronto (Yonge & Eglinton) jimwblack@gmail.com or Dan Lang dan.lang@bell.net
Next session: Professor Emeritus Anthony Doob
Limiting the Use of Imprisonment: Learning from Successes
Feb. 22, 2015 at 12:30PM (Same location and contact info)
Ottawa Citizen – Louise Bradley
Progress indeed on mental health, but stigma remains
Bradley reviews the numbers around mental health in Canada, notes the areas of real improvements, and makes suggestions about how to go further faster. Improvements noted include the changes in policing, the changes in workplace around mental health and the change in approach by media. http://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/bradley-progress-indeed-but-stigma-remains
National Newswatch – Art Eggleton
Three things we can do to end poverty in Canada
Eggleton, a former mayor of Toronto, Member of parliament and currently a Senator, identifies several ways that poverty costs the Canadian economy and then suggests three way to address the issues more effectively: education, basic incomes, and tax reform. The suggestions may have more merit as the debate over income disparity heats up. http://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2015/01/09/three-things-we-can-do-to-end-poverty-in-canada/#.VK_lGntQRTQ
The Economist
Canada’s immigration policy – No country for old men
The article discusses the historic point system vs the new criteria in place as of Jan 1, 2015, and notes that Express Entry is the second attempt to favour those with job offers, the first being the Temporary Workers Program. The new 1200 point system rewards both a job offer and assurances that foreign qualifications are acceptable in Canada. The system also targets a more youthful applicant. Critics say that the system with its employer-lead may re-introduce discriminatory practices. http://www.economist.com/news/americas/21638191-canada-used-prize-immigrants-who-would-make-good-citizens-now-people-job-offers-have
A note from Catherine Latimer of John Howard Canada:
Passing of Bill C-483, An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (Escorted Temporary Absence)
The private member’s bill is now law and removes to the Parole Board from the head of institution the right to grant to lifers the Escorted Temporary Absence. The rationale is supposedly so the victims can participate in the decision but creates some inconsistency in policy in that the warden can still release lifers on work release. Private members bills often speak directly to an aspect rather than the whole policy and are commonly used by government because they do not require prior legal examination for constitutionality. Corrections and Conditional Release Act: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-44.6