Mar 13, 2017
Globe and Mail – Patrick White
B.C. Health Ministry to take responsibility for inmate health care
There has been much frustration and considerable conclusion of the inadequacy of health care delivered to inmates by the correctional authorities. Much critique of the lack of mental health treatment as well as the issues in women’s health have concluded that the health care of inmates, a disproportionately unwell segment of the population, needs to be an issue of public health. BC has now accepted the care of the inmates under the Ministry of Health. “In 2003, the World Health Organization passed a declaration urging nations to deliver inmate health care through their respective ministries of health. Since then, countless prisoner rights advocates have called for an end to these secondary health system for inmates, citing Norway, Britain and France as forerunners.” http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/bc-health-ministry-to-take-responsibility-for-inmate-health-care/article34207554/ Related article: CBC News Shania Luck Organization launches to provide support for pregnant incarcerated women – Women’s Wellness Within grew out of an informal support group of perinatal workers http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/organization-launches-to-provide-support-for-pregnant-incarcerated-women-1.4021021 Related article: CBC News – Curtis Mandeville ‘I’m not a bad person:’ Recognizing impacts of childhood trauma in the justice system – Psychologist says childhood abuse and neglect ‘not only cost the individual, they cost society’ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nwt-michael-abel-childhood-trauma-justice-system-1.4023239
CBC News – Austin Grabish
Canada Border Services Agency detaining 8 people in Manitoba jails – Hundreds detained over last five years; feds refuse to say if latest group are asylum seekers
Here’s a review of province of Manitoba’s detention of refugee and asylum seekers, prompted by the rash of new comers walking across the US – Canada border in the province. What is distressing are the 15 deaths in custody nationally under the CBSA since 2000. CBSA can detain when one of three circumstances are present: “where there’s a flight risk, when their identity cannot be verified, or when it’s determined they pose a threat to public safety.” http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/detainees-manitoba-jails-1.4021278 Related article: CTV News – Laura Peyton Ralph Goodale fires back at critics over border jumpers http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/ralph-goodale-fires-back-at-critics-over-border-jumpers-1.3320517
Toronto Star – Wendy Gillis
SIU allegations ‘regularly ignored by police,’ critics say
The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is a provincial body charged with investigating injuries from police confrontations. The relationship has long been rocky between the SIU and local police forces and the problem appears to be that recommendations following a SIU investigation of a police incident are often without consequence. Local police are under no obligation to respond to the SIU. Toronto police, for example, see the work of the SIU replicated in their own professional standards unit. All of which leaves the average citizen perplexed and the injured party often looking for recourse. https://www.thestar.com/news/crime/2017/03/12/siu-allegations-regularly-ignored-by-police-critics-say.html
Globe and Mail – Sean Fine
Courts shaken by search for solutions to delays
The article weighs the impact of R vs Jordan, the Supreme Court decision that placed time limits on prosecution of major criminal charges. The decision is causing the dismissal of many charges and causing consternation in the courts. Fine examines the original decision and rationale, and offers a number of resolutions to the impasse. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/courts-shaken-by-search-for-solutions-todelays/article34275019/
Speakers Canada (March 10, 2017) – Olympian Clara Hughes
It’s About Connecting People with the Struggle
Bell Canada has heavily invested in encouraging Canadians to talk publicly and with one another about mental health. Olympian Clara Hughes describes her personal experience from early childhood and concludes that he lifetime struggle to learn to share her joy in achievement was lacking in the conviction that sharing the struggle was more frequently the problem and the key to sharing the joy of her considerable achievement. The link is to a 12 minute and inspiring presentation. http://www.speakers.ca/speakers/clara-hughes/
Vice News Canada – Beisan Zubi
Here’s why I never reported sexual harassment while working in Parliament
Last week, the entire House of Parliament MP chairs were filled with ladies from across Canada representing their electoral districts. The witness to inclusion prompted one former staffer to explain her personal experience that the Hill was a fundamentally unsafe place for young women. “The few years I worked on the Hill in my mid-twenties was a crash course in sexism and sexual harassment.” Then, Zubi offers eight reasons why she never reported the assaults and harassment. https://news.vice.com/story/heres-why-i-never-reported-sexual-harassment-while-working-on-parliament-hill Related article: iPolitics – Jenn Jefferys Women in politics still fight uphill battles every day http://ipolitics.ca/2017/03/13/its-about-respect/ Related article: Globe and Mail – Robyn Doolittle Unfounded: Canadian military police to review sex-assault cases http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/canadian-military-police-to-review-sex-assault-cases/article34278927/
Toronto Star – Jacques Gallant
Paralegals in family courts ‘not the solution,’ Toronto judge says
While much of the controversy around courts and trails in recent months has been on delays and how to circumvent the delays and possible discharges, the family court has a different problem: litigants are mostly self-represented. A week old report calls on the system to allow para-legals to represent the litigants but the option is getting a rough ride from the judges. The problem is compounded by an inadequately fund legal aid program. https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/03/14/paralegals-in-family-courts-not-the-solution-toronto-judge-says.html