Dec 4, 2016
CBC News – At Issue – Peter Mansfield, Jennifer Ditchburn, Althea Raj, Chantal Hébert
Hateful tweets
The At Issue panel looks at the racism, misogyny and threats directed at politicians, especially women MP’s but also some visible minorities among the men MP’s. The venom is most disturbing and not likely to fade away in an era of growing populism. Each of the panelists, and Michelle Rempel, MP, offer their personal solutions to the problem as they have experienced it. http://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2016/12/02/at-issue-hateful-tweets/
Toronto Star – Bruce Campion-Smith and Robert Benzie
Politicians must address economic anxiety or face backlash, Trudeau says
The opinion flowed from an interview with the Toronto Star’s editorial board and the Prime Minister. Trudeau suggests that there was an element of populism and concern over economic disparity in the election a year ago. “We have to understand that a lot of the frustration and anxiety comes from worry and anxiety linked to economic opportunity,” Trudeau said. “And unless we make significant changes around who gets the benefit of economic growth — unless we’re much better about including everyone in the success of our country — then people will start to lash out.” https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/12/02/politicians-must-address-economic-anxiety-or-face-backlash-trudeau-says.html Related article: Toronto Star – Kathy English, Public Editor ‘Alt-right’? No, call it racism https://www.thestar.com/opinion/public_editor/2016/12/02/alt-right-no-call-it-racism-public-editor.html
Toronto Star – Robert Benzie
Trudeau urges police to ‘enforce the law’ on marijuana
The headline sounds like a different tune than when Trudeau offered his election promise on the legalization of marijuana. The cause seems threatened by the report just tabled advocating a continuing struggle against the black market in favour of the legal dispensaries and the thought that these legal dispensaries will protect against youth purchase and use of marijuana. The difference according to the statements of the Prime Minister is the term “yet.” https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2016/12/03/trudeau-urges-police-to-enforce-the-law-on-marijuana.html Related article: Globe and Mail – Grant Robinson OxyContin creator expands into Canadian pot industry http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/leadership-behind-canadian-medical-marijuana-company-has-an-oxycontin-past/article33200287/ Related article: Toronto Star – Editorial (Dec. 4, 2016) Province needs to fund safe injection sites in Toronto https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2016/12/04/province-needs-to-fund-safe-injection-sites-in-toronto-editorial.html
Metro News (Toronto)
White extremism looks different in Canada, but it exists
The article offers a comparison between the alt.right as it exists in the US and the presence of those sentiments in Canada. “We were in denial that hate crime was a problem and there was a presence of right-wing extremism in this country,” says Barbara Perry, a professor in the faculty of Social Science and Humanities at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, who specializes in hate crime. http://www.metronews.ca/news/canada/2016/12/05/alt-right-in-canada-can-it-happen-here.html
Canada Correctional Services –
Recognizing Mark Yantzi
Yantzi, along with his colleague Dave Worth, is the probation officer who proposed the application of RJ to a case of wanton and extensive vandalism in Elmira in 1974, the first recognized case of RJ in Canada. Yantzi is retiring from CSC. Says Yantzi, in retrospect of the past 30 years, “It’s not about forgiveness. That sometimes happens, but I will never raise it. The goal is to have the victim express what they need to say, and for the offender to take responsibility. This is huge because victims often blame themselves for what has happened to them or their loved ones. Once they hear that it wasn’t their fault, a major shift happens and they are changed. It’s like a weight is lifted off of them.” http://www.lte-ene.ca/en/for-you/2016-05/recognizing-mark-yantzi Related article: CSC Learning from the Best – How Stacey Alderwick Became A Restorative Opportunities Mediator http://www.lte-ene.ca/en/in-your-own-words/2016-05/learning-best
Georgia Strait – Travis Lupick
B.C. non-profit outlines the case for abolishing solitary confinement in Canadian prisons
The 112-page document was prepared by B.C.-based non-profits West Coast Prison Justice Society and Prisoners’ Legal Services is scheduled for release later this week. The report is saying that the most critical element in what government calls “administrative segregation” is the unquestionable harm the practice inflicts on the mentally ill. http://www.straight.com/news/836321/bc-nonprofit-outlines-case-abolishing-solitary-confinement-canadian-prisons