A Gift Exchanged…

April 13, 2017

CBC News – The Canadian Press
Malala Yousafzai’s full speech to Parliament – ‘Education for girls can transform communities, countries and our world,’ Nobel laureate says in address

Canada’s sixth and youngest ever Honorary Citizen:

‘Welcome to Canada’ is more than a headline or a hashtag. It is the spirit of humanity that every single one of us would yearn for, if our family was in crisis. I pray that you continue to open your homes and your hearts to the world’s most defenseless children and families — and I hope your neighbours will follow your example.  I am humbled to accept honorary citizenship to your country. While I will always be a proud Pashtun and citizen of Pakistan, I am grateful to be an honorary member of your nation of heroes.  http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/malala-yousafzai-full-speech-text-1.4067821

Toronto Star – Nicholas Keung
Parliamentary report offers fixes for ‘frustrating’ immigration system

A 48 page report by the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration has just been released.  Technology applied on a global basis is a key focus but also the availability of case status reports is high on the list.  Immigration lawyers and sponsors alike have cases that drag on and for which there is no contact with officials and even then no information.  https://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2017/04/11/parliamentary-report-offers-fixes-for-frustrating-immigration-system.html   Link to actual Parliamentary Report:  Modernization of Client Service Delivery  http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Language=e&Mode=1&Parl=42&Ses=1&DocId=8838388&File=9

MintPress News (US) – Jared Ware Fellow
Lawsuit May Set Precedent on Forced Immigrant Labor in Private Prisons

GEO Group Inc. is one of three major private prison operators in the US who have benefit enormously by selling on the open market the labour of inmates who get pittance.  In a first of its kind, under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), a federal district judge has allowed a class action lawsuit to recover the lost income of some 60,000 inmates under GEO.  While GEO is the sole defendant here, the practice is commonplace in US prisons and has potentially extensive long term implications.  http://www.mintpressnews.com/lawsuit-may-set-precedent-forced-immigrant-labor-private-prisons/226723/

Toronto Star – Desmond Cole
Police oversight isn’t broken, it was built this way

The recently released report from Justice Michael Tulloch prompts Cole to suggest that the oversight and outcomes of encounters between civilians and police has been heavily weighted in favour of police.  Tulloch wants at least 50% of the Special Investigations Unit to be from a non-police background.  The focus of the report now changes to the provincial government for action.  Critics like Black Lives Matter who were instrumental in prompting the report don’t want the 129 recommendations gathering dust on a shelf.  https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2017/04/12/police-oversight-isnt-broken-it-was-built-this-way-cole.html

CBC News – Amanda Pfeffer
Police warn organized crime, including the Hells Angels, has infiltrated the medical marijuana market – RCMP document suggests ‘significant alarm bells’ started ringing back in 2013

Today the medical and reactional legalization of marijuana legislation is due to be introduced, attendant with all sorts of second thoughts about branding, permissible age, taxes, costs.  RCMP reveal that organized crime gangs, including the Hell’s Angels, have pursued licenses since 2013 from the federal government for medical pot as well.  So far as the RCMP know, no such gang has actually obtained a license.  http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/police-warn-organized-crime-including-the-hells-angels-has-infiltrated-the-medical-marijuana-market-1.4067112    Related article: CBC News – Tim Fontaine   First Nations aim to capitalize on economic opportunity of legal pot industry – Some already investing in medical marijuana, want Ottawa to include them in discussions  http://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/first-nations-recreational-marijuana-economy-1.4066362

 Association des services de réhabilitation sociale du Québec – Porte Ouverte (volume XXIX, numéro 1)

Ce numéro a pour thème Les femmes dans le système de justice pénale : constats, défis et particularités.  Les articles sont de Ruth Gagnon, Sénatrice Kim Pate, Anne-Céline Genevois…  http://www.asrsq.ca/index.php

Human Rights Watch (Published in Open Democracy) – Tanya Lokshina, Russia Program Director
Anti-LGBT Violence in Chechnya – When Filing “Official Complaints” Isn’t an Option

While legal recourse or appeal to law enforcement is more likely to bring retaliation, fears are growing that the LGBT community are under direct attack and suspected LGBT persons are herded into camps.  “In light of brutal repression in Chechnya, we cannot reveal our sources for fear of compromising their security. The fear of devastating reprisal is so intense that we cannot even provide detail on specific cases as the victims could suffer even more as a result of the exposure.”  https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/04/04/anti-lgbt-violence-chechnya