Mar 12, 2015
Toronto Star – Tonda MacCharles
Tories table life-sentence legislation in Commons – The Conservative government has formally introduced its promised Life Means Life Act in the Commons.
The legislation is showing the politicization of the criminal justice system at its worst. For almost fifty years, the Canadian justice system has been out of the hands of politics and in the hands of people with no axe to grind. Now, the life means life insertion brings the decision on parole right back to the cabinet and ministers of government who have political masters rather than justice issues to confront. The bill again raises why the Tories acknowledge that there are likely constitutional issues and that the recourse to Cabinet after 35 years creates a constitutional pass. http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/03/11/tories-table-life-sentence-legislation-in-commons.html Related article: Globe and Mail – Selena Ross Toronto police chief has doubts about life-in-prison proposal http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/toronto-police-chief-has-doubts-about-life-in-prison-proposal/article23350105/
Toronto Star – Emma Jarratt
Canadian torture victim Abdullah Almalki seeks access to RCMP, CSIS documents
Abdullah Almalki, a Syrian-Canadian businessman who was detained in Syria in 2002 for two years, is suing the Canadian government and seeking the full release of 60 very heavily redacted documents for evidence in his case. Security agencies labelled a number of people as “imminent threats” and “Islamic extremists” in reports to the Syrian security services. The first to win compensation from government was Maher Arar but there are at least three others still pursuing the CSIS involvement in torture by foreign powers on the basis of Canadian fed information. http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/03/11/canadian-torture-victim-abdullah-almalki-seeks-access-to-rcmp-csis-documents.html
CBC News – Kady O’Malley
E-petitions coming to the House after the next election – New Democrat MP Kennedy Stewart’s motion passed despite government opposition
After the next election and thanks for a three year effort by NDP MP Kennedy Stewart, Canadians will be able to direct e-petitions to the House of Commons. Thanks to this legislation the House will set up an official site to receive petitions and the Speaker’s Office is charged with readying the site for business. http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/e-petitions-coming-to-the-house-after-the-next-election-1.2991010
Toronto Star – Rachel Mendleson
Motherisk review could have Canada-wide implications – Child protection agencies in provinces outside of Ontario have relied on hair drug tests from the Motherisk lab at the Hospital for Sick Children.
Motherisk is a Sick Kids Toronto program which tests hair for evidence of drug use in cases to determine custody – and safety – of children. The tests are done by Sick Kids for a number of provinces and territories and the recent issues around accuracy may raise legal problems throughout these jurisdictions. http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/2015/03/12/motherisk-review-could-have-canada-wide-implications.html
CBC News – Kathleen Harris
Corrections Canada pushing ahead with electronic monitoring of offenders
Corrections Canada is almost ready to roll out a three year Cross Canada pilot program on the use of electronic ankle alerts for high profile offenders. The pilot and its supporting information was uncovered by Justin Piche of the University of Ottawa and the Criminalization and Punishment Education Project (CPEP). The project involves some 300 devices. Earlier experiments discovered problems with drained batteries and with false alarms. Critics say that the approach is limited to a role of monitoring and that there is nothing helpful around re-integration with the approach. http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/corrections-canada-pushing-ahead-with-electronic-monitoring-of-offenders-1.2983398?cmp=rss CPEP link: http://cp-ep.org/
CTV News
RCMP search OPP union offices; senior leaders take leaves of absence
There appears to be an investigation of the Ontario Provincial Police union by the RCMP. Union offices and a travel agency office that caters to first responders were part of the search but no one is explaining any cause or reason for the searches and the warrants issued have been sealed. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/toronto-police-chief-has-doubts-about-life-in-prison-proposal/article23350105/ Related article: Canada.com – Douglas Quan and Adrian Humphreys RCMP probe into OPP union turns attention to Toronto-based travel agency http://www.canada.com/news/national/RCMP+probe+into+union+turns+attention+Toronto+based+travel/10881335/story.html
CBC News
Dalhousie’s use of restorative justice in Facebook scandal gets expert praise – Dalhousie commended for level of commitment, courage and compassion
Brenda Morrison, director of the Centre for Restorative Justice at British Columbia’s Simon Fraser University, thinks the actions taken were both courageous and compassionate for all concerned. She says: “Everybody there is under pressure to do the conventional thing and just push the problem and the people out the door, which bypasses any opportunity to learn and grow from this…”I think this particular case will be a game-changer.” http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/dalhousie-s-use-of-restorative-justice-in-facebook-scandal-gets-expert-praise-1.2991078