A system of paralysis…

    May 14, 2015

 CBC Radio – Anna Maria Tremonti
Chris Hedges says America on road to revolution, even in Baltimore

Pulitzer Prize winner Chris Hodges is interviewed by Tremonti on the discontent in American cities and the US prison system.  He calls the corporate control of the state a system of paralysis.  The link is for a 25 minute audio tape.  Hedges latest book is called The Wages of Rebellion: The Moral Imperative of Revolt.   http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-may-13-2015-1.3072112/chris-hedges-says-america-on-road-to-revolution-even-in-baltimore-1.3072170

CBC News – James Cudmore
Military’s response to sexual misconduct report curtailed by general’s orders – Chief of the defence staff’s directive set out ‘assumption’ that meant key recommendation would be ignored 

The report from former Supreme Court Justice Marie Deschamps was given in draft form to General Tom Lawson in February 2015 and Lawson prompted issued a set of orders to senior officers about how to confront the recommendations.  Lawson and Minister of Defence Jason Kenny accepted only two of the ten recommendations when they were released publicly three months later.  Backlash now has Kenny accepting all ten recs.  http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/military-s-response-to-sexual-misconduct-report-curtailed-by-general-s-orders-1.3071386   Related article: CBC News  Jason Kenney guarantees independent centre to handle military sexual misconduct   http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/jason-kenney-guarantees-independent-centre-to-handle-military-sexual-misconduct-1.3072324

Canadian Press – Bruce Cheadle
Omnibus budget bill rewrites history to clear RCMP of potential criminal charges

Cheadle points out a clause buried in the Budget Omnibus Bill that he says effectively rewrites history, apparently to avoid charges against the RCMP for destroying long gun registry information.  The Omnibus predates the application of the law to the point at which the government first proposed the changes and effectively blocks “the Information Commissioner Suzanne Legault who is poised to recommend charges against the Mounties for withholding — and later destroying — gun registry documents while the legislation was still being debated.”   http://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2015/05/13/omnibus-budget-bill-rewrites-history-to-clear-rcmp-of-potential-criminal-charges/#.VVP5XZNQRUZ

CBC News – Melissa Mancini
Marijuana treatment for PTSD unproven, says Veterans Affairs Minister Erin O’Toole

The reaction of Veteran Affairs Minister Erin O’Toole to the discovery of the cost and extent of the use of government financed marijuana treatment for PTSD in Canada is likely to bring back marijuana as an election issue. E-mails from department spokespersons said:  “The Government of Canada does not endorse the use of marijuana, but the courts have required reasonable access to a legal source of marijuana when authorized by a physician.”  Veterans Affairs wants physicians to look carefully at the needs of the veteran, said O’Toole.  http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/marijuana-treatment-for-ptsd-unproven-says-veterans-affairs-minister-erin-o-toole-1.3073007

Toronto Star – Royston James
Advising resistance to police’s carding efforts grows more tempting: James

Superior Court Justice Frederick Myers just awarded $27,000 in damages to man stopped by police in a carding exercise and then arrested and assaulted.  The Judge, and James, is offering advice to those stopped by police for carding:  Don’t stop and don’t talk.  http://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2015/05/13/advising-resistance-to-polices-carding-efforts-grows-more-tempting-james.html   Related article: Toronto Star – Wendy Gillis   Sudanese man wins $27,000 in carding lawsuit against police    http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/2015/05/12/sudanese-man-wins-27000-in-carding-lawsuit-against-police.html   Related article: Toronto Star –  Patty Winsa   Group questions why Toronto police don’t have stats to defend carding    http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/05/13/group-questions-why-toronto-police-dont-have-stats-to-defend-carding.html

 National Post – Catherine McIntyre
Migrant sex workers caught up in Ottawa sting facing deportation, further exploitation: activists

Eleven migrant sex workers got caught up in a sting exercise of massage parlours and now will be deported.  The women were undocumented and working illegally.  Emily Symons of POWER, an Ottawa sex workers’ advocacy group, says:  “Deporting the women is exactly what makes migrant sex workers vulnerable to violence and exploitation… (in their home countries) they will likely face severe poverty and abuse.”  http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/migrant-sex-workers-caught-up-in-ottawa-sting-facing-deportation-further-exploitation-activists

Toronto Star – Alex Boutilier
CSIS can’t keep up with ‘daily’ state-sponsored cyber attacks 

A threat overview prepared for Stephen Blaney, later allowing a heavily censored version to media under Access to Information suggests that CSIS is swamped by state sponsored hacking efforts of Canada’s political and industrial assets, public and private.  The sheer number of cyber-attacks appears to be the problem.  Ottawa has identified China as a major player.  Long term funding appears equally an obstacle to the CSIS response.  http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/05/14/csis-cant-keep-up-with-daily-state-sponsored-cyber-attacks.html