Apology: LGBT…

Sept 16, 2017

Globe and Mail – John Ibbitson
Federal government to announce advisory council for apology to LGBT Canadians

The federal government has begun to compose an advisory committee charged with helping government to address the issue of historic rights abuses towards homosexuality in the military and government services and to formulate an appropriate apology, and perhaps recompense.  The link includes an 11min28sec video through the eyes of several victims.  https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/federal-government-to-announce-advisory-council-for-apology-to-lgbt-canadians/article36275317/

Toronto Star – Lisa Wright
Man named to lead Canadian women’s advisory board . . . again

Catalyst Canada is a non-profit intended to improve the gender gap in the workplace by increasing the presence of women.  Bill Downe, retiring CEO of the Bank of Montreal, has been the chair and now CIBC CEO Victor Dodig has been named to chair an organization pursuing greater women’s presence in the work force.  Somewhere a bell seems not to have rung???  https://www.thestar.com/business/2017/09/14/man-named-to-lead-canadian-womens-advisory-board–again.html

Friends of Crime Prevention (Kitchener-Waterloo)
A Community Course: Reframing Crime, Justice and Prevention

Every Thursday: October 26 – December 7 – 6:30 – 9:00 pm
For anybody who is open to looking beyond the accepted status quo, thinking critically about these issues and willing to examine issues from every possible perspective – maybe even some perspectives with which you would disagree.  Location: October 26 – November 9 @ Community Justice Initiatives (49 Queen Street North—3rd Floor)
November 23 – December 7 @ Kitchener Public Library (85 Queen Street North – Room A)   For more info:  http://friendsofcrimeprevention.ca/community-course/

Toronto Star – Tonda MacCharles
Search for a new RCMP commissioner extended

Sept 15 – today – was the deadline for applications to fill RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson’s job but the deadline has been extended to Oct. 23 to allow “a more proactive search.”  Deputy commissioner Dan Dubeau is serving as interim RCMP commissioner.  There are quite a few senior position that the federal government is having difficulty to fill (cf link).  The RCMP has been mired in long standing problems around recruiting, equipment, number of members and personnel policy. Critics say the delay in appointments is a result of diversity targets by the federal government as well.  https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/09/14/search-for-a-new-rcmp-commissioner-extended.html

Globe and Mail – Unfounded Series – Robyn Doolittle
OPP overhauls sexual assault investigation process

The Unfounded Series has been looking at the wisdom and practice of reporting sexual crimes to the police from the perspective of what a victim must endure once reported.  Following a seven month internal examination, the OPP will in the coming months roll out a new protocol on how it will investigate and react to sex crimes. The OPP’s unfounded rate of 34 per cent, is one of the highest of a major police service in the country.  Part of the new protocol will include review by senior supervising officers for any outstanding or unfounded case.  https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/unfounded-opp-commits-to-enhanced-training-oversight-for-officers-who-investigate-sexual-assault/article36275515/

Globe and Mail Editorial (September 14, 2917)
Don’t rename solitary confinement, end it

Believe it or not a federal government lawyer stood in the Ontario Superior Court last week and announced that the federal prison system does not use solitary confinement.  He was trying to persuade the court that administrative segregation is not the same.  “According to federal statistics, that’s what happens to about 4,500 federal inmates in any given year, for an average stint of 24 days.  The Globe and Mail wants to end the entire practice, whatever it is called.  https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/editorials/globe-editorial-dont-rename-solitary-confinement-end-it/article36273533/

Canadian Observatory on Homelessness – Erin Dej
Taking the lead: A federal plan for preventing homelessness

The federal government has committed to $2.1 billion over 11 years.  The Observatory is offering a four point plan to prevent homelessness rather than to allow it to happen and then react.  The plan calls for all government agencies to act in concert since the services or lack thereof of the government all play a role in homelessness.  “Housing, child and family services, health care, corrections, income support, education, and employment sectors all have a role to play in preventing homelessness.”  http://homelesshub.ca/blog/taking-lead-federal-plan-preventing-homelessness

CNN (US) – Van Jones, Jessica Jackson Sloan
The one group we abandoned during the hurricanes

Did you wonder what happened to inmates in prisons and jails during the two recent storms, Harvey and Irma?  Here’s the scoop and say the authors, the failure of humanity that allowed us to be sympathetic to removing pets from threatened areas but not so determined in the case of many inmates. https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2017/09/12/opinions/prisoners-pet-irma-opinion-jones-jackson/index.html

CBC News – Alison Crawford
Gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous inmates growing, latest statistics show – Ministers of justice and public safety say the government is not turning a ‘blind eye’ to the issue

We have some fresh stats from government around the incarceration of Indigenous people.  Guess what?  There are more than ever, especially women, and they are released less quickly than the non-Indigenous; Indigenous men are 25.2% of the inmate population; Indigenous women 36.1%;  82.4% of all Indigenous offenders served their complete sentence before being released, just 65.2 per cent of non-Indigenous offenders are held until their statutory release date.  The system is broken!  http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/crime-corrections-indigenous-prisons-1.4291568