June 15, 2016
iPolitics – Elizabeth Thompson
Orlando shooting renews calls for Canadian gun control – Mulcair calls on Liberals to fulfill campaign promise to repeal Bill 42
The Conservative Bill-42 allows restricted and prohibited weapons to be transported without a permit and removed from the RCMP the authority to classified assault rifles as prohibited weapons. The Orlando shootings are prompting the NDP to wonder why the Liberals have not acted to ensure stricter gun control laws in Canada for weapons like the AR-15. Minister of Public Safety Ralph Goodale says that the RCMP have not pushed for changes to date. https://ipolitics.ca/2016/06/13/orlando-shooting-renews-calls-for-canadian-gun-control/ Related article: CBC News – John Paul Tasker Orlando shooting prompts questions about Tory MP’s support for AR-15 rifle e-petition http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/conservative-mp-ar-15-petition-1.3634820 Related article: National Newswatch – John Cotter Public safety minister rejects call to change classification of AR-15 rifle http://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2016/06/14/public-safety-minister-rejects-call-to-change-classification-of-ar-15-rifle/#.V2Bie7vyuUk Related Article: CTV News – Jesse Tahirali Getting an AR-15-style rifle is much harder in Canada than the U.S. http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/getting-an-ar-15-style-rifle-is-much-harder-in-canada-than-the-u-s-1.2945990 Related article: Toronto Star – Chantel Hébert In wake of Orlando shooting, reflect on Canada’s history with LGBTQ rights https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/06/14/in-wake-of-orlando-shooting-reflect-on-canadas-history-with-lgbtq-rights-hbert.html Related article: Toronto Star – Faisel Kutty Time to address homophobia among some Muslims https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2016/06/14/time-to-address-homophobia-among-some-muslims.html Related article: Globe and Mail – Denise Balkissoon Freedom, resistance and grief: Why the queer dance floor matters http://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/dance-on-gay-bars-are-the-homes-of-freedom-resistance—and-now-grief/article30447388/ Related article: Toronto Star – Chris Tatham No simple cause, or cure, for mass killings https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2016/06/15/no-simple-cause-or-cure-for-mass-killings.html
Globe and Mail – Steven Chase
Canada now the second biggest arms exporter to Middle East, data show
For a country which prides itself on the traditional peace keeper role, this news has to be distressing: Canadian arms exporting to the world’s most volatile region is at an all time high. Canada is second in exports to the Middle East, the US is first, in the US dollar value of the exports. Bolstered by the recent sale of armored vehicles to Saudi Arabia, Canada is now the 6th rank overall in arms exporting in the world. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/canada-now-the-second-biggest-arms-exporter-to-middle-east-data-show/article30459788/
CTV News – Joan Bryden, Canadian Press
Senators reject expanding assisted death law to include advance directives
The struggle between the Senate and the Parliament continues over the C-14 Bill on assisted dying. The scope of the bill has been contentious from the beginning and part of what appears as a growing riff between the senate and the Liberal government. The latest point of contention involves the potential for a person to provide in advance for assisted dying. http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/senators-reject-expanding-assisted-death-law-to-include-advance-directives-1.2944643 Related article: CTV News – Joan Bryden, Canadian Press Assisted dying bill need not comply with Supreme Court ruling: justice minister http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/assisted-dying-bill-need-not-comply-with-supreme-court-ruling-justice-minister-1.2944184 Related article: CBC News At least 31 Canadians have asked for a doctor-assisted death since January http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/more-than-thirty-canadians-ask-for-doctor-assisted-death-1.3633625
CBC News – Susanna Mas
Trudeau announces nearly $70M over 3 years for Indigenous mental health services – New investment will fund 2 permanent mental health workers in Attawapiskat, PM says
The funding is new money for health issues spread over the next three years. Trudeau calls the funding, and the services to be provided the beginning of a new age for Indigenous mental health. Besides the two workers, the money allows for a culturally response crisis line, four new crisis response teams for Ontario, Manitoba and Nunavut, an increase in mental wellness teams from the present 11 to 43 in the locations of greatest needs, community training and other improvements. http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-attawapiskat-youth-chief-meeting-1.3629960
The Guardian (UK) –
Texas officials vote against British firm’s plans for immigration detention center
In the US, federal legislation requires that there be a total of 35,000 beds in immigration detention available at all time (and pays for the number, used or not), a guarantee that would bring a smile of delight to any supplier of services. The latest indicator of the profitability of detention to private companies comes from bids by Serco of England on a share of the family detention beds in Texas. So far, Texas says no. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/jun/15/texas-immigration-detention-center-serco-proposal-mexico-border