July 29, 2016
Ottawa Citizen – David Matyas and Mark Dance
Hunger strike shows the ugly underbelly of how Canada treats migrants
The authors argue that the indefinite detention practiced now in Canada and resulting in the current hunger strike is in fact curtailed by Section 7 of the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms. How, then, does Canadian law still allow indefinite detention? Read on. http://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/columnists/matyas-and-dance-hunger-strike-shows-the-ugly-underbelly-of-how-canada-treats-refugees
Toronto Star – Wendy Gillis
Police ‘on notice’ after sentencing of Const. James Forcillo
There will surely be an appeal of both the conviction and the sentence but the verdict and sentence in the Forcillo case will also surely be seen as a new yardstick in the measurement of police conduct. Ontario Court Justice Edward Then’s message in the courtroom is that “police officers must only use lethal force as a last resort.” David Tanovich, a professor of law at the University of Windsor says: “All police services in Canada are on notice that there will be real consequences in the criminal justice system for inadequate training or failing to follow training. It is no longer business as usual in our criminal justice system for police officers.” https://www.thestar.com/news/crime/2016/07/28/police-on-notice-after-sentencing-of-const-james-forcillo.html Related article: Toronto Star – Alyshah Hasham Const. James Forcillo granted bail as he appeals Sammy Yatim shooting conviction https://www.thestar.com/news/crime/2016/07/29/const-james-forcillo-bail-sammy-yatim.html Related article: CBC News Const. James Forcillo, convicted in streetcar shooting death of Sammy Yatim, released on bail http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/forcillo-bail-hearing-day-2-1.3699764 Related article: Globe and Mail – Laura Stone Ottawa community mourns man who died after encounter with police http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/funeral-held-for-somali-canadian-man-who-died-after-altercation-with-police/article31199886/ Related article: Ottawa Citizen – Blair Crawford Hundreds attend Abdirahman Abdi funeral, family seeks ‘open, transparent’ investigation http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/mayor-jim-watson-to-attend-funeral-for-abdi Related article: National Newswatch – Geordan Omand Judge tosses out jury verdict in B.C. terror trial, rules RCMP entrapped pair http://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2016/07/29/judge-to-rule-on-whether-rcmp-entrapped-b-c-couple-found-guilty-of-terrorism/#.V5uU2vnyuUk Related article: CBC News – Connie Walker Missing, murdered Indigenous women inquiry launch coming next week http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mmiw-inquiry-launch-coming-august-1.3698671 Related article: Globe and Mail (US)– Amanda Alexander Those who focus on police reform are asking the wrong questions http://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/police-reform-isnt-enough-for-black-america/article31166356/
Globe and Mail – Joanna Smith
Circumstantial evidence can be enough in child porn cases: top court
The Supreme Court of Canada ruled today that circumstantial evidence in a case of child porn – i.e. finding the porn on a computer – can be enough for conviction and once found on someone’s computer the Crown is not obligated to pursue other possible explanations. This case involved a man who brought a computer with child porn to a service technician who called police. The SCC over-ruled a lower court in its finding. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/circumstantial-evidence-can-be-enough-for-child-porn-cases-supreme-court/article31200508/
Globe and Mail – Virginia Galt
It’s 2016, but women – even in elite professions – still earn less
We in Canada may have an equal number of women in government but we still do not have equal pay, even in the professions. A report from the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association and The Counsel Network, a national legal recruitment firm says that men, even when they have less experience and length of service, still earn more than women. There is also discrepancy in the field of accounting. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/careers/career-advice/life-at-work/its-2016-but-women-even-in-elite-professions-still-earn-less/article31201083/
Globe and Mail – Gloria Galloway
Canadian study to examine scope of PTSD among public-safety workers
The University of Regina has a new research institute: Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research. It is about to launch research on the impact of PTSD among public sector employees who work at anxiety filled jobs. While PTSD is known among the military returning from combat, little is known about first responders or public employees working as prison guards. The institute understands the PTSD as a health issue and the federal government will assist in the research and response. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/canadian-study-to-examine-scope-of-ptsd-among-public-safety-workers/article31174013/