Group homes…

March 16, 2016

Toronto Star – Sandro Contenta and Jim Rankin
Children’s aid societies urge Ontario group-home overhaul

A report tabled by the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies (OACAS), is concerned with the lack of supervision and accountability from group home operators, even to the point of not having any screening of staff who deal with the children.  The report lays responsibility clearly with the Ministry of Children and Youth Services and is asking for a complete overhaul of Ontario’s group home system.  http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/03/14/childrens-aid-societies-urge-ontario-group-home-overhaul.html   Related article:  Toronto Star – Sandro Contenta and Jim Rankin   Two teens’ harrowing stories of Ontario group homes   http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/03/14/two-teens-harrowing-stories-of-ontario-group-homes.html   (Link includes a 1 ½ minute video)

Globe and Mail – Robert Fife
RCMP drops investigations against 24 senators flagged in forensic audit

After two years of huffing and puffing, the abuses alleged and chronicled against 30 senators will not result in RCMP investigations or charges.  Some are exonerated, some still under suspicion but the evidence says none of them have much chance of being convicted.  Some think the difficulty with evidence in the Mike Duffy trial is prompted the conclusion.  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/rcmp-drops-investigations-against-24-senators-flagged-in-forensic-audit/article29255307/

Reclaiming Justice Network (UK) – Chris Hignett
Closing Holloway

The UK is about to close its most notorious women’s prison and the approach seems mostly focused on how brave the government is to step up and make such a pointed decision.  Hignett is quick to point out, that though depopulating the prison is a good idea, and the release of the poorest of those inmate has received little or no thought or planning about their coping and the necessary support services after release.  https://downsizingcriminaljustice.wordpress.com/2016/03/07/closing-holloway/

CBC News – Alison Crawford
Government tech support putting RCMP, public safety at risk, documents reveal – Internal documents warn disorganization at Shared Services Canada has jeopardized Canada’s police force

The news from Shared Services Canada – the consolidation of the various data banks into one – continues with serious misgivings.  First the Supreme Court opted out and now the RCMP is refusing to go any further in the partnership around the force’s communications and computer services.  Commissioner Paulson says any further dependence on Shared Service Canada “pose unacceptable risks to public safety, protection of RCMP members and policing across Canada.”   http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/rcmp-it-shared-services-canada-1.3492640 (Link includes two video reports)

iPolitics – Elizabeth Thompson
Revenue Canada quietly handed 155,000 Canadian banking records to IRS

It seems that Revenue Canada got a head-start on another item besides deciding to forgive tax free overseas hidden accounts, also kicking up privacy issues.  In September, 2015, Revenue Canada passed banking records for 155,000 Canadians to the American Internal Revenue Agency who wanted to know about their tax avoiding hidden accounts.   The revelation comes in House of Commons documents and refers to Canadians who are residents in the US or Americans who live in Canada.  Guess what?  We are scheduled to do it again in September 2016!  Justin Trudeau called the idea of sharing Revenue Canada information about Canadian citizens with a foreign power “troublesome.”  http://ipolitics.ca/2016/03/16/revenue-canada-quietly-handed-155000-canadian-banking-records-to-irs/

 

Globe and Mail – Daniel Bear and Mahnoor Yawar
Less-lethal weapon

Toronto police, in the face of several high profile shootings have been advocating for less lethal weapons and more intense training for the officers with these weapons.  The authors argue that more community policing is a far better way of containing police-civilian confrontations that lead to shootings.  “Greater good can be achieved by looking past armament options and focusing on fully embracing community policing. Such singularity in focus would help all communities connect with the police and ensure that the legitimacy to use force is retained for those rare instances when it is warranted.”   http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/do-less-lethal-weapons-improve-the-communitys-confidence-inpolice/article29252839/

Globe and Mail – Zosia Bielski
Manitoba passes law to offer victims of domestic violence leave from work

What happens with regard to the workplace when a woman decides that she had enough abuse and attempts to flee the domestic abuse?  Here is one story of how the system becomes part of the problem rather than a support through hard times.  Manitoba now has a law that assures such victims unpaid leave and guaranteed job security while dealing with domestic violence.  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/manitoba-approves-bill-to-offer-victims-of-domestic-violence-leave-from-work/article29255554/   Related article: Toronto Star – Carol Goar   Disability: the last bastion of prejudice  http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2016/03/16/disability-the-last-bastion-of-prejudice-goar.html   Related article:  CTV News – Jordan Press, Canadian Press   Addiction, mental health top issues pushing Canadians into homelessness    http://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/addiction-mental-health-top-issues-pushing-canadians-into-homelessness-1.2818455