Mar 5, 2015
National Newswatch – Paola Loriggio
Harper’s ‘life without parole’ initiative a political move, say critics
Critics and legal experts are calling the latest Harper government move to end parole for certain first degree murder convictions “a political sleight of hand,” especially in the light of a fund raising appeal for the Conservatives following on the heel of the Scarborough announcement yesterday. http://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2015/03/04/new-law-will-ensure-some-life-sentences-are-for-lifepm-harper/#.VPiBL-FQRUa Related article: Canada.com – Andrew Coyne No need for Tories’ ‘Throw Away the Key Act’ http://www.canada.com/news/national/Andrew+Coyne+need+Tories+Throw+Away/10862252/story.html Related article: National Post – Tasha Kheiriddin With his new ‘life means life’ bill, Harper has found his wedge http://news.nationalpost.com/2015/03/04/tasha-kheiriddin-with-his-new-life-means-life-bill-harper-has-found-his-wedge/ Related article: Globe and Mail – Sean Fine Ottawa to introduce life sentences without parole under new legislation http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/new-law-will-take-away-parole-for-some-life-sentences-harper-says/article23281657/ Related article: Blogger Justin Piche at TCPC: Tracking the Politics of Criminalization and Punishment in Canada http://tpcp-canada.blogspot.ca/
CBC News – Jack Julian
Quebec resident Alain Philippon charged at border for not giving up phone password – Whether border officials can force you unlock a cellphone hasn’t been tested in Canada courts
Philippon, 38, of Ste-Anne-des-Plaines, Que, was returning to Canada from the Dominican Republic when he was asked to divulge his pass code for his cell phone. He refused and has been charged with an offence that could, if found guilty, result in a year in jail or a $25,000 fine. Rob Currie, Director of Law and Technology at Dalhousie says: “This is a question that has not been litigated in Canada, whether they can actually demand you to hand over your password to allow them to unlock the device,” he said. “[It’s] one thing for them to inspect it, another thing for them to compel you to help them.” http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/quebec-resident-alain-philippon-charged-at-border-for-not-giving-up-phone-password-1.2982236
National Newswatch – Canadian Press
Supreme Court orders new trial in 1984 Candace Derksen killing in Manitoba
Mark Grant was found guilty of the murder of 13 year old Candace Derksen in 2011 but an appeal court has ordered a new trial based on the assessment that the trial judge erred in not allowing evidence around the guilt of a third party. The Supreme Court of Canada has upheld the appeal court ruling for the new trial. http://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2015/03/05/scoc-set-to-issue-ruling-in-case-of-winnipeg-girl-murdered-in-1984/#.VPiI9-FQRUZ
Ottawa Citizen – Chris Cobb, Canada.com
DND response to soldier’s suicide report deemed ‘secret’
The case continues to puzzle both the military and the legal experts. A suicide in 2008, Cpl Stuart Langridge’s death was investigated by the Military Police and the Military Police Complaints Commission. Langridge’s parents have been frustrated by the whole process, culminating in the application of the status of “military secret” to the findings. The parents have asked a federal court of remove the secrecy and make public the report. http://www.canada.com/news/response+soldier+suicide+report+deemed+secret/10862295/story.html Related article: Toronto Star – Bruce Campion-Smith Watchdog challenges military’s secrecy over investigation into soldier’s suicide A military watchdog has gone to court to challenge the defence department’s refusal to release its response to the probe of a soldier’s suicide. http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/03/05/watchdog-challenges-militarys-secrecy-over-investigation-into-soldiers-suicide.html
CBC News – Shanifa Nasser
Ottawa’s de-radicalization focus much too narrow, reformed skinhead says – Aggressive actions towards certain groups only can backfire, says former extremist, part of federal campaign
A former Nazi skinhead and a participant in the federal government’s de-radicalization efforts thinks the scope of the effort condemns it to failure. The program, funded by Public Safety Canada, features experts Daniel Gallant and Christianne Boudreau, a mother whose son was killed fighting for ISIS. University of Toronto researchers as well as the RCMP have concluded that overly aggressive punishment and control responses do not help. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa-s-de-radicalization-focus-much-too-narrow-reformed-skinhead-says-1.2981671
iPolitics.ca – Geoffrey Hall
Why Harper will never call an inquiry into missing/murdered women
Hall offers three reasons why last week’s gathering in Ottawa around the murdered and missing Aboriginal women resulted in little or no progress or agreement between the federal government and the Aboriginal community: the national inquiry would open other windows, the timing may be bad, and Harper may be so invested in portraying the murder of 1200 women as a crime that he cannot politically be seen to change his mind. http://www.ipolitics.ca/2015/03/04/why-harper-will-never-call-an-inquiry-into-missingmurdered-women/