March 29, 2017
Globe and Mail – Nathan VanderKlippe
China to Canada: Don’t follow Australia’s lead on extradition treaty
Australia said “No!” and China then urged Canada not to follow the Australian lead. The extradition question has been at issue for some time and what is at doubt is the real purpose on the part of the Chinese. Canada has long refused extradition to countries still practicing the death penalty without strict assurance the penalty will not be invoked. These discussions are overshadowed by the Communist Party control over the legal system and by concerns around the use of torture in interrogation. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/china-to-canada-dont-follow-australias-lead-on-extradition-treaty/article34442527/ Related article: Globe and Mail – Steven Chase, Robert Fife and Nathan VanderKlippe Former CSIS directors question Canada’s pursuit of extradition treaty with China http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/china-to-canada-dont-follow-australias-lead-on-extradition-treaty/article34442527/ Related article: Globe and Mail – Steven Chase Liberals reverse course on Chinese takeover of Montreal high-tech firm http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/liberals-reverse-course-on-chinese-deal/article34441975/
Globe and Mail – Gloria Galloway
Ottawa begins settlement talks in Sixties Scoop cases
“Scoop” was the slang term used for the practice of social service agents and police going into an Indigenous home to place the children in the custody of the state, most later to be given out to adoptive parents. Last month a court found that the government failed to protect these Indigenous children and the current government has decided not to appeal the ruling, clearing the way for negotiated settlements involving around 16,000. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-begins-settlement-talks-in-sixties-scoop-cases/article34441284/ Related article: CBC News – John Paul Tasker Senator Lynn Beyak says she has ‘suffered’ with residential school survivors – ‘There are shining examples from sea to sea of people who owe their lives to the schools,’ Tory senator says http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/senator-lynn-beyak-suffered-residential-schools-1.4042627 Policy Options: Bill Flowers There are a number of incremental steps Trudeau could take to bring substance to his nation-to-nation declaration http://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/february-2017/steps-along-reconciliation-road/
iPolitics – Tasha Kheiriddin
Legalizing weed was never about anything but votes — and money
Yesterday, the federal government set Canada’s birthday, July 1, 2018, as the target date for the process of legalizing recreational marijuana. The legislation is due before 4/20, the supporters’ day for celebrating (in defiance of the current laws) the use of the drug. Kheiriddin sees a vote-getting rationale among the millennials and a money grab by the companies whom the federal government will license and by taxation of the product. http://ipolitics.ca/2017/03/27/legalizing-weed-was-never-about-anything-but-votes-and-money/ Related article: CBC News – Matthew Kupfer Marijuana legalization could leave provinces responsible for pot rules – Government to announce marijuana will be legal by July 1, 2018 http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/marijuana-legal-political-reaction-1.4042389 Related article: Ottawa Citizen – Marc Solby In legalizing marijuana, let’s not suck and blow at the same time http://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/columnists/solby-in-legalizing-marijuana-lets-not-suck-and-blow-at-the-same-time Related article: Ottawa Citizen (Editorial: March 27, 2017) Clear the haze around marijuana http://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-clear-the-haze-around-marijuana
Ottawa Citizen – Andrew Seymour
Ottawa man taken off suicide watch in jail less than a day before killing himself
This report again manifests the failure of prisons and detention facilities to achieve their primary function given custody: to keep safe the people in their charge. These cases – three identified in this link – are almost inevitably failures to provide adequate mental health care and evidence of long term refusal to respond to the recommendations from inquest juries (inquests are mandatory). Added to the perplexity about the poor responsiveness of the system despite countless and repeated avowals, politically and within the corrections arena, the inquest itself can take two years. http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ottawa-man-taken-off-suicide-watch-in-jail-less-than-a-day-later-he-killed-himself
The Tyee (BC) – Staff
Tyee Story on First Responders and PTSD Finalist for National Award
A story about first responders is on the finalist list for a national award but more importantly is an appropriate beacon highlighting the risks and the dangers that first responders face daily. Part of the effort to showcase mental health in the workplace, the article by reporter David P. Ball is entitled “They Keep Us Safe, but ‘Stigma’ Is Killing Firefighters, Paramedics and Cops.” (https://thetyee.ca/News/2016/05/20/They-Keep-Us-Safe/) The original article appeared in May of 2016 and is now being recognized by the national press. https://thetyee.ca/Tyeenews/2017/03/27/First-Responders-National-Award/
CBC News – Aaron Wherry
Health of Canadian democracy improving, but concerns remain, poll suggests – Rates of direct participation in traditional politics remain relatively low in Canada
Here’s a little more positive response to questions around what Canadians think of their government and elected officials and how trustworthy they are. http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/samara-canada-democracy-survey-1.4042812