April 19, 2016
Globe and Mail – Shannon Kari
Convicted of attempted murder, Forcillo fights to serve time at home
Forcillo is the Toronto policeman who shot Sammy Yatim on a streetcar. He was found not guilty of second degree murder but guilty of attempted murder which carries a penalty of four to five years in prison. Forcillo is asking to serve his sentence in house arrest, not prison, and raising yet another confrontation with mandatory minimums. Forcillo’s lawyers are appealing to Superior Court for a ruling on the constitutionality of the minimums, first set for crime with a gun, curiously by the Liberals in 1996 and later amended slightly by the Conservatives in 2008. Once the sentencing issues are over, the lawyers also intend to appeal the verdict. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/convicted-of-attempted-murder-forcillo-fighting-to-serve-sentence-at-home/article29660718/
Globe and Mail – Colin Freeze
RCMP listening device capable of knocking out 911 calls, memo reveals
The RCMP have been using devices called International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) catcher which mimic a cell tower but while “catching” the electronic devices also block calls, even 911 calls from innocent third parties. The devices, within their range of 500 meters, are indiscriminate in who they catch besides the IMSI they are targeting. RCMP seem to be in process of expanding the use of catchers despite their own assessment of the drawback, given that the RCMP have used them since 2005. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/rcmp-listening-tool-capable-of-knocking-out-911-calls-memo-reveals/article29672075/ Related article: Globe and Mail – How the RCMP’s secret surveillance tools work http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/imsi-catchers/article29671586/
CBC News – John Paul Tasker
Conservative MP Michelle Rempel says she has faced sexism, unwanted touching – Tory accuses 2 MPs — including a cabinet minister — of sexist behaviour
Michelle Rempel, a Conservative MP for the Calgary riding of Nose Hill, has written an op-ed piece for the National Post on sexual harassment on the Hill. Politicians of all stripes are saying the article is worth reading but no names offered. The question seems to be if reluctance and silence in the face of harassment contributes to the problem, especially when other males who witness are silent. http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/michelle-rempel-sexual-harassment-1.3541189 National Post op ed article: Michelle Rempel: Confront your sexism http://news.nationalpost.com/full-comment/michelle-rempel-confront-your-sexism CBC News – Powerpoint: Rempel’s sexism op-ed (9 min video) http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2687090663 Related article: Toronto Star – Catherine Porter Why Jian Ghomeshi accuser wants you to know her name http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/04/18/why-jian-ghomeshi-accuser-wants-you-to-know-her-name-porter.html
Abacus Data – David Coletto, PhD
The Next Canada: Politics, political engagement, and priorities of Canada’s next electoral powerhouse: young Canadians.
Commissioned by the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations, the study looks at the role played by 18-25 year olds in the last election and looks at the possible for the next election. The report concludes: “Policy makers, politicians, and other community and business leaders who fail to listen and engage with this new force will be left behind as the NEXT CANADA emerges.” http://abacusdata.ca/the-next-canada-politics-political-engagement-and-priorities-of-canadas-next-electoral-powerhouse-young-canadians/ Related article: Globe and Mail – Jordan Press Liberals have young voters to thank for their majority http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/liberals-have-young-voters-to-thank-for-their-majority/article29673261/
Globe and Mail – Gloria Galloway
Ottawa called out on residential-school settlement shortfall
Former national chief Phil Fontaine is blaming the government for its failure to ensure the agreement for compensation on the residential school settlement. The Catholic Church was to put its best effort into raising $25 million for a cash portion of the agreement but managed only $3.7 million over the seven year campaign. Federal lawyers, say Fontaine, who collaborated in the fund raising effort, let the Catholic entities off the hook. “We tried very hard to meet the commitment that the Catholic Church entities faced. We were unsuccessful,” he said. So Ottawa should “certainly” step in.” http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-called-out-on-residential-school-settlement-shortfall/article29672161/
Toronto Star – Robert Menzie, Wendy Gillis and Jacques Gallant
Attorney General has yet to read SIU report on Loku shooting — let alone make it public
For some time now, the Black Lives Matter group has been protesting the lack of accountability by police and ministry officials around the death of Andrew Loku, a Black man shot and killed by Toronto police. Angry reaction followed the revelation that AG Madelaine Meilleur admitted to not having ready the SIU report and at the same time suggesting that her ministry would not release the SIU report publically. http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/2016/04/19/attorney-general-has-yet-to-read-siu-report-on-loku-shooting-let-alone-make-it-public.html
Toronto Star – Sara Mojtehedzadeh, Geoffrey Vendeville
Women in retail jobs hardest hit in by gender pay gap, says new report
A new report, commissioned by the Ontario Pay Equity Commission, shows the impact of gender on inequities on pay scales, hours of work, part time and full time positions. Kendra Coulter of Brock University, one of the report’s researchers and authors, says: “This is not about a few bad apples. There is a widespread devaluing of women workers across the sector.” http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/04/18/women-in-retail-jobs-hardest-hit-in-by-gender-pay-gap-says-new-report.html