Mar 22, 2017

Toronto Star – Editorial (Mar 22, 2017)

Let families of murdered and missing indigenous women speak

The editorial is re-acting to the revelation that the data bank of MMIW for the Inquiry has a bare 92 names, well short of the estimated 1200 plus victims.  There seems to be an element of confusion about whether those who participated in pre-inquiry were assured anonymity or if they thought their testimony was a matter of record.  Now the issue for those who want to be heard is how to clarify and get admitted to the inquiry as witnesses.  https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2017/03/21/let-families-of-murdered-and-missing-indigenous-women-speak-editorial.html   Related article: Huntington Post (Canada) – Joshua Ostroff   Indigenous Women Shouldn’t Have To Live In Fear. But They Do   http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/03/21/indigenous-women-canada_n_15358450.html?ncid=engmodushpmg00000003   Related article: CBC News – Waubgeshig Rice    Métis, non-status Indians call for action following historic Daniels ruling   http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/ottawa/metis-non-status-daniels-ruling-1.4034693   Related article: APTN  Cindy Blackstock eyes Federal Court to force Ottawa to treat First Nations children fairly   http://aptnnews.ca/2017/03/21/cindy-blackstock-eyes-federal-court-to-force-ottawa-to-treat-first-nations-children-fairly/

Globe and Mail – Colin Perkel

Vice Media reporter must turn over materials to RCMP: court

This issue has been circling the controversy around C-51 and the right of police to have access to journalistic sources in the case of terrorism investigations.  Reporter Ben Makuch, and a host of supporting organizations , insisted on the privacy of sources as the only way to assure that such sources would come forward.  RCMP served ‘produce’ orders on Makuch who went to the court of Appeal, and in the light of its ruling, is now wondering about appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/vice-media-reporter-must-turn-over-materials-to-rcmp-appeal-court-rules/article34381284/   Related article: Globe and Mail – Colin Perkel and Ingrid Peritz   Prosecutors drop Montreal Mafia cases after questions about RCMP surveillance tactics  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/montreal-police-surveillance-within-lauded-investigation-cause-prosecutors-to-drop-mob-cases/article34379831/   Related article: Ottawa Citizen – Simon Stern  How easy is it for police to search your texts? The Supreme Court is set to decide   http://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/columnists/stern-how-easy-is-it-for-police-to-search-your-texts-the-supreme-court-is-set-to-decide

CBC News – Kristy Nease

Here are the Ottawa police reinforced gloves we know about (so far) – Internal audit ordered after CBC reported gloves worn by officer charged in death viewed as weapons by SIU

Here’s a new one for you: some gloves worn by Ottawa police – and presumably other police forces – are considered lethal weapons by the Special Investigations Unit which is charged with investigations when police are involved in injuries to the public.  The use of the gloves have come to light in the beating death of a Somali man by an Ottawa constable now charged with the death.  Critics are calling for equipment audits to learn how widespread the re-enforced knuckle gloves are for both issue and private purchase.  http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/quartermaster-gloves-ottawa-police-reinforced-1.4034925

CBC News

5 teens guilty of sharing intimate images in Bridgewater Dropbox case – Teenagers plead guilty to sharing nude photos using online account under new law in effect 2 years ago

Six teenagers were charged in Bridgewater, NS, for posting nude photos of as many as 20 girls on the internet using Snapchat drop boxes, the first charged after a new law.  Five of the six have pleaded guilty, a sixth will later plead guilty. The trial now enters the penalty phase but education and RJ appear preferred consequences – all the accused were minors at the time of the offences.  http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/5-teens-guilty-of-sharing-intimate-images-in-bridgewater-dropbox-case-1.4036328  Related article: CBC News – Anjuli Patil   What happened to Rehtaeh Parsons ‘just wouldn’t happen now,’ says mother   http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/rehtaeh-parsons-independent-review-recommendations-update-1.4036820

Toronto Star – Nicholas Keung

Refugee board’s plea for assistance with growing backlog ignored

The Refuge Board was one of the federal agencies watching the Budget for increases to deal with a growing backlog. IRB chair Mario Dion expects the backlog to reach 30,000 this year.  To date the number of refugees has gone up 48% in the first two months of 2017.  https://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2017/03/22/refugee-boards-plea-for-assistance-with-growing-backlog-ignored.html  Related article: Globe and Mail – Michelle Zilio   Federal budget vows $100-million for strategy on gender-based violence, citing Globe Unfounded investigation    http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/federal-budget-2017-unfounded-violence-gender/article34388068/

Angus Reid Institute Public Interest Research

M-103: If Canadians, not MPs, voted in the House, the motion condemning Islamophobia would be defeated

The well-known surveyor of public opinion says that were the vote on M103 left to the Canadian Public instead of the elected MP’s the motion would have been defeated.  The motion, which had no force of legislation, and had no specific changes in mind, was a simple affirmation that we have no room in Canada for Islamophobia.  The real issue appears to be the attitude towards Muslims with half of Canadians saying there is no need for such a declaration and another half saying that the issue is already overblown.  http://angusreid.org/islamophobia-motion-103/