Khadr’s bail…

    Nov. 29, 2015

Toronto Star – Ben Spurr
Ottawa reconsidering position on Omar Khadr’s case – Federal Liberals may not fight ruling that let ex-Guantanamo Bay prisoner out on bail in May.

The Khadr case was one of those that suggested political rather than legal pre-occupation.  An Alberta judge granted Khadr bail and he was released to live with his lawyer with a number of limitations while yth4e feds applied for and got an extension of the time limit within which they could appeal the bail.  It is now beginning to look like the feds will abandon the effort.  http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/11/28/ottawa-reconsidering-position-on-omar-khadrs-case.html

Globe and Mail – Kathryn Blaze Baum
Winnipeg attorney Sheilla Leinburd on prosecuting two serial killers who preyed on indigenous women

This article is part of a continuing series on issues around the murdered and missing Indigenous women, especially those victimized by serial killers.  The article looks at the frequency of serial killers and the difficulties involved in prosecuting the case once the killers are discovered and charged.  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/winnipeg-attorney-sheilla-leinburd-on-prosecuting-two-serial-killers-who-preyed-on-indigenous-women/article27520296/

Toronto Star – Jim Coyle
Age of the omnibus: Mike Harris’s Bully Bill was passed 20 years ago

Bill 26 was the beginning of the practices of omnibus legislation, bills that were huge, filled with widely different, smaller elements, and pressured through parliament without any opportunity to examine the content.  The then Ontario Premier Mike Harris was the designer but the practice spread to the Harper government through people in the Ontario government who moved to the federal scene, people like John Baird, Jim Flattery, and Tony Clement.  This week is the 20th anniversary or courageous resistance by Ontario Black Liberal Alvin Curling.  The article is a helpful reminder of where we have been as a country. http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/11/28/age-of-the-omnibus-mike-harriss-bully-bill-was-passed-20-years-ago.html

Toronto Star – Wendy Gillis
Why does a son or daughter kill a parent? 

Metro Toronto has seen a spike in the cases of murder of a parent recently.  Eight cases since August leaves people puzzled about why and what circumstances lead to the crime.  Single sons under 30 commit the crime, living in the same house as the victim, and the crimes are generally highly emotionally charged.  http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/11/28/why-does-a-son-or-daughter-kill-a-parent.html

Globe and Mail – Matthew McClearn
Water Fight: Bottles, wells, big business

Nestlé’s have found a solution to a water source for bottling water, one that appears to invite the ire of neighbours.  They bought a former chicken farm with a deep well and the owner’s right to pump 1300 liters per minute.  The property, just outside of Elora, ON., and the practice has prompted two local organization monitoring the effect on the ground water to resist what they call unnecessary depletion of the resource.  The case may prompt reaction to other agri and industrial high users as well.  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/nestle-water-ontario-dispute/article27509298/   Related article: Globe and Mail – Rob McGregor  Ontario teen activist takes on the bottled water industry   http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ontario-teen-activist-takes-on-the-bottled-water-industry/article27518523/

The Register-Guard (Oregon) –
Eugene-based company wins $5.6 million federal grant to try to reduce violence in K-12 schools

Given the wide-spread use of social media and cell phones by many students, this non-profit, Iris Educational Media, wants to try to curb violence in schools by designing safety applications for the phones.   The expectation is that the internet based app could be used as a tip line for any of the myriads of possible safety hazards confronting the modern school.  Iris thinks that high school is the level where there is the most concern and that the response, anticipated to be from local teachers, seeks to incorporate restorative justice principles.   http://registerguard.com/rg/staging/33730837-110/eugene-based-company-wins-5.6-million-federal-grant-to-try-to-reduce-violence-in-k-12-schools.csp

Herald Dispatch.com   Editorial (Nov. 29, 2015)  
Ohio establishes good model for juvenile justice  

The state has pursued alternatives to incarceration for its juvenile offenders for almost two decades and now appears to lead the US in its efforts and successes.  Spending even one night in jail appears to have a 50% chance of creating a high school drop-out.  The state’s juvenile budget is now $58 million less than in 2008.  The editorial concludes that these alternate measures are “a far better strategy for salvaging kids’ futures than simply locking them up.”  http://www.herald-dispatch.com/opinion/editorial-ohio-establishes-good-model-for-juvenile-justice/article_7b2187cb-9c0f-5855-8b42-0b2875dfc0d7.html