Jan 31, 2015
National Newswatch – Jim Bronskill, Canadian Press
Spy service to get new anti-terror powers
Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) will have greater power to confront domestic terrorism: peace bonds to prevent movement will be easier, suspects detained for seven days without charge, authority to remove terrorist material from the internet, various threat disruption warrants, and a new criminal offense of supporting terrorists. Oversight will supposedly be by the present Security Intelligence Review Committee, an almost non-functioning body neutralized by lack of funding and of active membership. http://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2015/01/30/spy-service-to-get-stronger-anti-terror-powers-under-federal-bill/#.VMwvWi5QRUZ Related article: Ottawa Citizen – Jordan Press New anti-terror law might not have stopped Zehaf-Bibeau http://www.canada.com/News/politics/anti+terror+might+have+stopped+Zehaf+Bibeau/10774591/story.html Related article: CBC News Ian Holloway appointed to Security Intelligence Review Committee Four of five positions on SIRC now filled, Deborah Grey still ‘interim’ chair http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ian-holloway-appointed-to-security-intelligence-review-committee-1.2937838 Related article: National Newswatch – Canadian Press Five things to know: the anti-terror bill http://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2015/01/30/five-things-to-know-about-the-anti-terrorism-measures-to-be-tabled-today/#.VMw2ci5QRUZ Related article: Globe and Mail – Stephen Chase and Daniel Leblanc Harper proposes new powers for spies, plays down civil liberties concerns http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/anti-terror-legislation/article22716849/ Related article: iPolitics – Kristie Smith Harper’s pre-election shift: Goodbye economy, hello security http://www.ipolitics.ca/2015/01/30/harpers-pre-election-shift-goodbye-economy-hello-security/ Related article: Ottawa Citizen Message from the Director of CSIS on the new anti-terror bill http://www.canada.com/News/politics/Message+from+Director+CSIS+anti+terror+bill/10775329/story.html Related article: Toronto Star – Thomas Walkom Canada’s new backward-looking terror law http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/01/30/canadas-new-backward-looking-terror-law-walkom.html Related article: Canada.com – Stephen Maher, Postmedia News Anti-terror law raises crucial question: Who will spy on the spies? http://www.canada.com/news/Maher+Anti+terror+raises+crucial+question+will+spies/10774696/story.html Related article: National Post – John Ivison Harper terror legislation has possibility to disrupt a balance that has served Canadians remarkably well http://news.nationalpost.com/2015/01/30/john-ivison-harper-terror-legislation-has-posibility-to-disrupt-a-balance-that-has-served-canadians-remarkably-well/ Related article: Globe and Mail – Campbell Clark Security debates are now about posturing in pre-election times http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/security-debates-are-now-about-campaigning-in-pre-election-times/article22731412/
Globe and Mail – Jeffrey Simpson
Ignoring the poor impoverishes politics
The poor, says Simpson, have become such a political liability that no federal party is talking about them, even in the current pre-election mode. Distasteful or risking to the parties, “a vast blanket of verbal rhetoric has been thrown over the Canadian population so that politicians define almost everyone as “middle class.” “Doug” is the focus of the investors of the effort to muddle the politics for the poor. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/ignoring-the-poor-impoverishes-politics/article22710583/
Ottawa Citizen – Jordan Press
Millions spent on consultants for access to information
NDP MP Charlie Angus asked in an order paper the cost of outside consultants to determine what will and will not be available through access to information: $57 million – 60% spent in the last four years. The numbers are incomplete; government seems to outsource as requests are made rather than develop a full time staff to respond. http://www.canada.com/News/canada/Millions+spent+consultants+access+information/10770908/story.html
Canada.com – Katherine May, Ottawa Citizen
Supreme Court ruling could pave way for federal union challenge on right to strike
We may be facing a considerable turmoil from Canada’s 17 federal unions around the recent decision of the Supreme Court on the right to strike. Currently the federal unions are governed by federal labour laws that prohibit strikes. “In a 5-2 majority, the Supreme Court found the right to strike is an “indispensable” part of collective bargaining and struck down as unconstitutional a Saskatchewan labour law that prevented public servants from striking.” http://www.canada.com/News/politics/Supreme+Court+ruling+could+pave+federal+union+challenge+right/10775434/story.html Related article: National Newswatch – Mike Blanchfield Supreme Court affirms right to strike http://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2015/01/30/supreme-court-decides-right-to-strike/#.VMz6eS5QRUZ