A decent proposal…

    Nov. 26, 2015

 Toronto Star – Alex Ballingall
A ‘decent’ proposal: Not-for-profits should raise job standards, report says – The Change Report argues the not-for-profit industry can lead the way on fair pay and benefits and help end precarious work in Ontario.

Many of Canada’s non-profits have long been caught in the ‘doing more with less’ syndrome, out of necessity and for survival.  This new report from the Mowat Centre’s not-for-profit section is suggesting that the precarious employment that charities often practice with poor salaries and even poorer benefits need to end for the 55,000 such organization in Ontario, involving almost 1.2 million workers.  The report advocates for ‘decent work’ and outlines a plan for change but does not appear to offer solution to the need for more resources if the non-profits are going to be able to respond. http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/11/25/a-decent-proposal-not-for-profits-should-raise-job-standards-report-says.html   Mowat Centre: Change Work: Valuing Decent Work for the Non-profit Sector  (A 48 page downloadable pdf)  http://mowatcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/publications/111_ChangeWork.pdf

 Truth Out (US) – Laura Flanders Show
Victory: Columbia University Divests $10 Million from Private Prisons

The US mass incarceration and mandatory sentencing regime along with the contract for 35,000 places in immigration holdings has resulted in several private prison companies making a considerable profit from prisons.  Several students started an accountability exercise for Columbia University which had invested $10 in shares of two of the major corporations.  The struggle has now gone beyond the prison system to the legal system as a whole and its racial discrimination, domestically and internationally.  http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/33822-victory-columbia-university-divests-10-million-from-private-prisons   Related article: The New Statesman (US) – Frances Crook   We don’t need to build more prisons – we need to send fewer people there   http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2015/11/we-dont-need-build-more-prisons-we-need-send-fewer-people-there

 International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group (ICLMG) – Monia Mazigh
Mr. Paulson: “We have enough power to fight cybercrime”

The RCMP want access without warrant to the personal and private internet communications that Canada has been discussing for a long time around defence against terrorism.   The rationale from the security agencies has now turned to crime prevention as well as terrorism.  The commentary, in opposing this latest focus, lists the various pieces of legislation that have all attempted unsuccessfully to establish warrantless access to private information.  http://iclmg.ca/mr-paulson-we-have-enough-power-to-fight-cybercrime/   Related article: iPolitics – Claire Wahlen  Goodale making no quick calls about online police powers   http://ipolitics.ca/2015/11/26/goodale-making-no-quick-calls-about-online-police-powers/   Related article: iPolitics – Michael Harris   The RCMP wants more online surveillance power. We should say no.      http://ipolitics.ca/2015/11/26/the-rcmp-wants-more-online-surveillance-power-we-should-say-no/   Related article: Human Rights Watch (US)  France: New Emergency Powers Threaten Rights – Parliament Should Ensure New Powers Not Misused   https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/11/24/france-new-emergency-powers-threaten-rights   Related article: Globe and Mail – Sean Fine   How Bill C-51 may change under Trudeau’s government   http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/how-bill-c-51-may-change-under-trudeaus-government/article27290610/

 CBC News – Jason Proctor
MV Sun Sea people smuggling decision expected in Supreme Court of Canada – Tamil migrants who were denied refugee status say they assisted people smugglers under duress 

A curious case about refugees is playing itself out in Canada’s Supreme Court around three people who paid to come to Canada on a dilapidated vessel seized by Canada Immigration.  The smugglers abandoned the ship and left some of those who paid for the trip to perform tasks such as cooking / keeping watch or navigating the vessel.  Did they aid and abet the smugglers?  http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/mv-sun-sea-human-smuggling-refugee-board-supreme-court-1.3339069   Related article: CBC News      Nil Köksal and Lisa Mayor  The family of Alan Kurdi, the Syrian ‘boy on the beach,’ is coming to Canada – Once turned down, Kurdi family is now on fast track to resettle in Canada, fifth estate finds  http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/alan-kurdi-family-canada-refugees-1.3338703   Related article: Canadian Press – Will Leroy   Feds give UN $100 mil for Syrian refugee relief, including work for Canada   http://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2015/11/26/feds-give-un-100-mil-for-syrian-refugee-relief-including-work-for-canada-2/#.VldhinZJaUk  Related article: National Newswatch – Colin Perkel      Single Syrian men not shut out of refugee stream to Canada, top official says  http://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2015/11/26/excitement-palpable-among-canadian-groups-as-syrian-refugees-set-to-arrive/#.VleIwXZJaUk   Related article: Toronto Star – Rob O’Flannigan   Guelph businessman funding 50 Syrian refugee families   http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/11/26/guelph-businessman-funding-50-syrian-refugee-families.html

 CBC News – Kathleen Harris
MPs and senators to expedite legislation on right to die – Supreme Court’s Feb. 6 deadline looms as government considers seeking extension to existing law

House leader Dominic Leblanc sees forming a joint committee of the House and Senate to propose a law that will respond to the Supreme Court directive setting a Feb 6 deadline for a legal right to die solution.  The file remained inactive under the Conservative government and unconfirmed expectations are that the new Liberal government will seek an extension from the court while getting the process started.  http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/doctor-assisted-dying-court-parliament-1.3338607

 Toronto Star – Jacques Gallant and Wendy Gillis
No charges for Peel cops after shooting of man and innocent bystander

The shooting incident last March by the Peel Regional Police saw eleven bullets fired into a Black suspect who police say was advancing on officer with a knife and one wounding a lady bystander, Susan Zreik, in her kitchen.  An officer, wearing a bullet proof vest was also hit by another round.  Critics are wondering there is no criminal negligence for the two strays even if the killing was justifiable.  Special Investigations Unit reports on police shootings are not usually made public but law suits are in the works.  http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/2015/11/26/no-charges-for-peel-cops-after-shooting-of-man-and-innocent-bystander.html

Statistics Canada –
Homicide in Canada, 2014

Canada had four more homicides in 2014 than 1013 but the rate is not impacted by this minor increase – still at 1.45 per 100,000 population.  Almost a quarter were Aboriginal victims; Manitoba has the highest rate and firearms as weapons are up 14%.  http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/151125/dq151125a-eng.htm