February 12, 2016

CBC News – Marika Wheeler

Unique mental health team in Quebec City treats psychotic patients at home

Willing to make up to four house calls a day to the same patient, psychiatric nurse Alexandre Boisvert delivers Traitement intensif bref à domicile (TIBD) – or “brief intensive home treatment.”  Tina-Maria Sirois suffers “from a schizoaffective disorder, struggles with depression, and she’s been hearing voices for the past eight years.”  She thinks the treatment is the best she has ever had.  http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/tibd-home-care-psychotic-patients-quebec-1.3441093

CBC News – Jim Salter, Associated Press

Michael Brown shooting: Ferguson agrees with most U.S. Justice Recommendations – City council says raising police, fire department salaries would be cost prohibitive

The US Justice Department has released a series of recommendations for the city of Ferguson, MO, where Black teen Michael Brown was shot to death by police, igniting protests across the US.  The city council appears to endorse the majority.  The recs are aimed at reforming the courts and police department, bringing out fear from critics that the city could go bankrupt in facing new costs.  http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ferguson-city-council-1.3441460

Globe and Mail – Tavia Grant and  Kathryn Blaze Baum

A piece of property

This is part one of an eleven part series on human trafficking that includes videos and additional special reports (all eleven parts are at the link.)  The report includes an indication of how the $25 million pledged to the fight has been spent to date and offers the experience of women trapped in the scene.  The article also offers resources available.  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/the-trafficked-sexual-exploitation-is-costing-canadas-most-vulnerable-women-their-lives/article28700849/   Related article: Globe and Mail – Kathryn Blaze Baum and Tavia Grant   Ontario government to unveil strategy to tackle human trafficking    http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ontario-government-to-unveil-strategy-to-tackle-human-trafficking/article28740329/

Toronto Star – Betsy Powell

Most of Toronto’s newest police don’t live in Toronto: The issue of where police officers live — and whether it matters — is a hot topic south of the border

The tension and the conflict between the community and the police in the US is sometimes attached to the ability of the individual police officer to identify with the community by living within the city he or she works for.  Toronto’s latest crop of recruits are living just about half in the suburbs and half in Toronto.  Should police reform include consideration of this factor, especially when the rational for the current high priced shift schedule is intended to accommodate commuter police officers who are already well paid? http://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2016/02/12/most-of-torontos-newest-police-dont-live-in-toronto.html

Globe and Mail  – Alexandra Posadzki

Ontario pot producer Tweed strikes business deal with Snoop Dogg

As the legalization of marijuana draws more commentary about the business side of pot growing, here is a contender for futures.  Legendary Snoop Dog has bought into the Canadian scene by putting his various commercial enterprises into the Tweed business model.  Tweed, a subsidiary of Canopy Growth Corporation, is already in the medical marijuana business and wants a larger portion of the future market.   http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ontario-pot-producer-tweed-strikes-business-deal-with-snoop-dogg/article28736261/

First Reference Talks – Stringer LLP

New limits on criminal records checks

The bill, Ontario 113, was passed December 1, 2015, and requires employers to change their approach to the practice of criminal record checks.  The implications of a background check have been wreaking havoc in the jobs where the checks are required, especially the ones requiring a fingerprint check and/or checks leading to the disclosure of the non-conviction records.  The article spells out the impact of the new legislation for hiring.  http://blog.firstreference.com/new-limits-on-criminal-records-checks/?platform=hootsuite   Related article:  Sterling Backcheck – Mark Sward    Compliance Update: Ontario Legislature Passes Bill 113, Police Record Checks Reform Act  http://www.sterlingbackcheck.ca/Resources/OurBlog/2015/December/Compliance-Update-Ontario-Legislature-Passes-Bill-113.aspx   Text of Ontario Bill 113    Bill 113, Police Record Checks Reform Act, 2015    http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&BillID=3416

Victims Justice Network  – Webinar

Domestic Violence in the Workplace Webinar March 10, 2016, 10-11AM EST

The Centre for Research & Education on Violence against Women & Children, Western University present a webinar entitled Domestic Violence in the Workplace.  Register at:  http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&BillID=3416