Nov. 13, 2015
Prime Minister of Canada – Justin Trudeau
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Mandate Letter
The Canadian public has been hearing about the mandate letter given to each federal government minister to guide the policy and practices of the department and to establish goals for the ministry. Previously held confidentially, the new government has determined to make the mandates public. Here is a copy of the mandate letter to the new Justice Minister and the Attorney General of Canada Judy Wilson-Reybould. http://pm.gc.ca/eng/minister-justice-and-attorney-general-canada-mandate-letter Additional mandate letters: Minister Goodale of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness http://pm.gc.ca/eng/minister-public-safety-and-emergency-preparedness-mandate-letter Minister McCallum of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship http://pm.gc.ca/eng/minister-immigration-refugees-and-citizenship-mandate-letter Minister Hajdu of Status of Women Other ministry mandate letters: http://pm.gc.ca/eng/ministerial-mandate-letters
CTV News
Ground-breaking report identifies suicide risk factors in Canadian Armed Forces
The Surgeon General has a new report looking at the suicide rates in the military from 1995-2014. The report shows higher rates for those who were deployed in Afghanistan than those not deployed. Likewise, the rates seemed higher for those in the Army than general population, navy or air force. http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/ground-breaking-report-identifies-suicide-risk-factors-in-canadian-armed-forces-1.2651773 Surgeon General’s Report 2015 Report on Suicide Mortality in the Canadian Armed Forces (1995 to 2014) (Downloadable pdf) http://www.forces.gc.ca/en/about-reports-pubs-health/report-on-suicide-mortality-caf-2015.page#abstract Related article: Globe and Mail – Renate |D’Aliesio Canadian Forces report on suicide omits Afghanistan war’s impact http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/canadian-forces-report-on-suicide-omits-afghanistan-wars-impact/article27223400/
CTV News
Minister wants to get started on missing women inquiry ‘as soon as we possibly can’
Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Carolyn Bennett wants the inquiry into murdered and missing women to get under way as soon as possible. The starting point, respecting the often voiced concerns of the indigenous community itself, will begin with a pre-consultation needed to determine such things as the scope, mandate and timing of a potential inquiry. http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/minister-wants-to-get-started-on-missing-women-inquiry-as-soon-as-we-possibly-can-1.2655259
Toronto Star – Tonda MacCharles
Trudeau’s decision on national security file promising and risky, experts say
Justin Trudeau has decided to chair a new cabinet committee on Intelligence and Emergency Management. Critics think it is both a bold decision but a risky one as well if anything goes wrong with the deliberations. The law professors think that Trudeau is clearly making national security and the items in C-51 a priority for the early days of his government. http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/11/11/trudeaus-decision-on-national-security-file-promising-and-risky-experts-say.html
Congratulations to the National Associations Active in Criminal Justice (NAACJ) – Celebrating 40 years
NAACJ is holding a reception on Nov. 25 at 5:00 – 8:00 pm at the O’Connor Room – Sheraton Ottawa Hotel – 150 Albert Street, Ottawa
Susan Haines, Executive Director, wants everyone to know that NAACJ welcomes all their friends and that to deal with the numbers asks that you pre-register to attend. The Honourable James Cowan, Catherine Latimer, Executive Director of John Howard Canada, and former Executive Director of John Howard Graham Stewart will offer an appreciation of what NAACJ has done and what lies ahead. Susan is also looking for memories from the founding and history of NAACJ and would be delighted to get an e-mail with the personal reflections. naacj@naacj.org
Restorative Justice: Healing After Trauma – Friday, Nov. 20 at Ottawa City Hall (Champlain Room) 5:30- 7:30PM
The Restorative Justice Network is sponsoring the event to celebrate Restorative Justice Week. The guest is Dave Gustafson, therapist and Executive Director of the Fraser Region (BC) Community Justice Initiatives Association. Dave has been long involved in the area of trauma and healing. Tanya Rugge will present as well on her research on the impact of Restorative Justice on Psychological and Physical Health. Organizers are asking a $10 donation and ask that you pre-register at cjpstudent@storm.ca
Globe and Mail – Tabatha Southey
Justice Robin Camp: Canada’s toughest sensitivity training student
Justice Camp has been in the news for some time already. He has raised issues about re-victimizing the sexual assault victim, about the judicial propriety of asking a sexual assault victim why she could not just keep her knees together, and about when a judge is clearly unable to discharge his judicial duty, and finally how to get rid of a judge who cannot fulfill his judicial duty. Southey takes the reader through both the history of this case and the remedies. Says Camp: “Where would one begin to correct the judge’s misconceptions and prejudices regarding women and assault?” http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/justice-robin-camp-the-toughest-sensitivity-training-student-possible/article27250702/