March 8, 2016
Toronto Star – Olivia Ward
Women’s voices speak loudly from behind bars – Today there are increasing reports of females detained as political prisoners, as repressive regimes expand their sweep of suspected enemies.
The article commemorates the International Women’s Day (March 8) with a review of women as political prisoners, often subjected to torture and sexual abuse. The article presents six women from various international scenes who are subject to imprisonment for persisting in political dissent. http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2016/03/08/womens-voices-speak-loudly-from-behind-bars.html Related article: Ottawa Citizen – Marc and Craig Keilburger Assaults take toll on women’s families, friends http://www.ottawacitizen.com/life/assaults+take+toll+women+families+friends/11767842/story.html Related article: Toronto Star – Emma Teitel Women’s Day is a perfect occasion for reflection and repentance http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/03/08/womens-day-is-a-perfect-occasion-for-reflection-and-repentance-teitel.html Related article: Globe and Mail – Margaret Wente Forget the gender pay gap. The class gap is much bigger http://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/forget-the-gender-pay-gap-the-class-gap-is-much-bigger/article29062711/ Related article: Toronto Star – Laurie Monsebraaten Daycare nightmare forces mom to take unpaid leave – Toronto daycare squeeze pushes some desperate parents to put kids in centres before they are licensed http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/03/07/daycare-nightmare-forces-mom-to-take-unpaid-leave.html Related article: Toronto Star – Christopher Reynolds Six women who made Toronto more just http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/03/07/six-women-who-made-toronto-more-just.html Related article: Globe and Mail – How We Succeed – Nine Canadian women share their aspirations and the challenges posed by gender inequality http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/have-we-achieved-gender-equality-nine-canadian-women-respond/article29013155/#subject7 (Link includes a number of articles on sub-themes) Related article: Globe and Mail – Janet McFarland Canada’s leading women’s groups seek co-ordinated advocacy http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/canadas-leading-womens-groups-seek-co-ordinated-advocacy/article29066258/ Related article: Globe and Mail – Justin Trudeau Gender equality is an opportunity, not a threat http://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/gender-equality-is-an-opportunity-not-a-threat/article29062577/
Toronto Star – Tonda MacCharles
CSIS used Bill C-51 powers several times to disrupt suspected terrorists, Senate hears
CSIS director Michel Coulombe has revealed to the Senate Committee on National Security that the C-51 power to disrupt has been used at least a dozen times since the authorization was granted, activities mostly shrouded in secrecy; when a federal judge authorizes an intrusion there is no publication of the details or even of the warrant having been issued. Coulombe insists that such powers are not out of the ordinary among spy agencies of other allied nations. http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/03/07/csis-used-bill-c-51-powers-several-times-to-disrupt-suspected-terrorists-senate-hears.html Related article: Ottawa Citizen – Ian MacLeod CSIS hasn’t crossed line with controversial new powers under Bill C-51, director tells Senate committee http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/national/csis+hasn+crossed+line+with+controversial+powers+under+bill/11768869/story.html
Ottawa Citizen – Kady O’Malley
Not even the Tories hit the $55 million spending limit in the last election
In the aftermath of last year’s the federal election and the budget crunch, here’s a costing of the processes. Despite the longest pre-election period in Canadian history, even the federal Tories did not go to the limit allowable – $55 million – coming in just over $41 million. Liberals and NDP kept under the allowable amount spent in the last election – around $20 million each. http://ottawacitizen.com/news/politics/kady-not-even-the-tories-hit-the-55-million-spending-limit-in-the-last-election
B.C. Tyee – Jeremy J. Nuttall
UN Tells Canada to Clean Up Its Act on Inequality, Social Rights – Poverty advocate says country should adopt ‘rights-based’ approach to quality of life.
In 1966, Canada signed a UN Convention International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. In its 10 year review of progress, the UN is saying that Canada is lagging behind, not advancing. The review “examines a nation’s progress on ensuring a dignified quality of life for its citizens, including, for example, citizens’ access to housing or safe working conditions.” The report also addresses gender discrimination. http://thetyee.ca/News/2016/03/08/UN-Tells-Canada-Clean-Up-Inequality/ UN Report: (An 11 page downloadable pdf) Concluding observations on the sixth periodic report of Canada http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CESCR/Shared%20Documents/CAN/E_C-12_CAN_CO_6_23228_E.pdf UN original Document: International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CESCR.aspx