June 4, 2020
Prison Reform Trust and Blogger Russell Webster – Sarah Beresford
Domestic abuse is a driver of women’s offending
Guest author Beresford present a view which would suggest it is time for a second look at the process of sentencing women for a short or otherwise longer sentence. In the presenting case, a mother was sentenced for assaulting a physically abusive husband – she hit him with a frying pan when he released her from a choke hold. Beresford notes that domestic abuse has increased since the Covid-19 stay-at-home, an increase of 50% according to one charity tracking the problem. Advocates say that 60% of women in prison have experienced domestic abuse. The impact on children of imprisoning women is also part of the commentary. http://www.russellwebster.com/i-lost-my-mum-twice-over/ Full PRT Report: “There’s a reason we’re in trouble” Domestic abuse as a driver to women’s offending (A 48 page downloadable pdf) http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/Portals/0/Documents/Domestic_abuse_report_final_lo.pdf
National Post – Jesse Snyder
Liberal gun ban quietly expanded, potentially putting owners unknowingly on wrong side of the law – A spokesperson for Bill Blair said the government is ‘considering options’ for how it can make the list of banned firearms more available and transparent
According to Snyder, the RCMP have returned to the practice of adding types of weapons to the banned list but are doing so without notification to anyone of the added prohibitions. Critics say that the RCMP have added over 350 types of weapons to the list and the Post has verified 200 on the list not previously found on the original May 1 order in council. In response to gun dealers and retailers of the banned weapons, “(Minister of Public Security) Blair has said the Liberal government is crafting a buy-back program for firearms deemed illegal under the new regulations, but has yet to provide details on the policy.” So far, there does not appear to any developments in the area of the power of the cities to ban handguns. https://nationalpost.com/news/liberal-gun-ban-quietly-expanded-potentially-putting-owners-unknowingly-on-wrong-side-of-the-law?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1591185346
Now (Toronto) – Enzo DiMatteo
Leaked details of Regis Korchinski-Paquet death has tarnished SIU’s probe, family’s lawyer says – Knia Singh is calling for an independent investigator to take over the SIU investigation into woman’s police custody death or hand over cops’ statements after details show up in the Sun
Lawyer Knia Singh is challenging police conduct in the case of a young lady who fell from her 24th floor apartment balcony with no one else in the apartment except police. Police were called supposedly for a knife assault. The victim Regis Korchinski-Paquet was also suffering from mental and perhaps addiction issues. Singh also says that the Special Investigations Unit has been compromised and is calling for an independent investigation. Both Police Chief Mark Saunders and Michael McCormack of the Police Union made inappropriate public commentary of a SIU investigation, contrary to policy. What is decisive to Singh is the allegation that police attempted to control the narrative of incident by releasing information to the Toronto Sun. “The case has raised issues around police treatment of Black and Indigenous people and police conduct when mental health is a factor.’ https://nowtoronto.com/news/regis-korchinski-paquet-police-siu-leak-toronto-sun/?utm_source=NOW+Newsletters+Audience&utm_campaign=d504dbb62c-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_03_16_05_05_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b25e16f305-d504dbb62c-141598201 Related article: CBC News – Shanifa Nasser Security footage retrieved from highrise where Toronto woman fell to her death https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/regis-korchinski-paquet-toronto-1.5593718 Related article: CBC News – Shanifer Nasser Family of Regis Korchinski-Paquet puts interview with police watchdog on hold after leak by ‘sources’ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/regis-korchinski-paquet-toronto-1.5596811
HuffPost (Canada) – Teresa Wright
Native Women’s Association of Canada Gives Liberals ‘Resounding Fail’ On MMIWG Report Anniversary – The groups says there’s been little action on the inquiry’s 231 calls for justice.
The Native Women’s Association of Canada has given the federal government a resounding failure for its inaction on the recommendations from the Commission on Murdered and Missing Women and Girls, now a full year after the report. ““Instead of a national action plan, we are left with a lack-of-action plan,” said association president Lorraine Whitman. “The sad fact is, we cannot afford to do nothing in the face of the violence that continues to take the lives of First Nations, Metis and Inuit women.” https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/mmiwg-liberals-native-womens-association-canada_ca_5ed801dac5b6d4d798e23b75
The Criminalization Punishment Education Project (CPEP – Ottawa)
Hunger strike at Ottawa Carleton Detention Centre
“OCDC PRISONER STRIKE: A hunger strike began this morning at 8am in the men’s maximum security unit of the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre. 14 men are participating and they have asked that we share the reasons for the strike and their calls for change.” A series of tweets explains why the prisoners are striking. https://twitter.com/CPEPgroup/status/1268286862218665984 Related article: USA Today – Kevin Johnson Federal prisons under national lockdown amid George Floyd protests, most severe restrictions in 25 years https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/06/02/george-floyd-protests-federal-prisons-lockdown-amid-outside-unrest/3122517001/
Toronto Star – Heather Scoffield and Bruce Campion-Smith
Justin Trudeau says he wants to tackle racism. Ahmed Hussen has a plan
Hussen is the only Black man, a Somali, in the Trudeau cabinet and in the light of repeated condemnations of the George Floyd incident and others in the US, the question becomes what now. Hussen says candidly that racism is alive and well – Stockwell Day just lost a fair amount in a denial of racism in Canada – but Canadian racism was nurtured in the treatment of the Indigenous as well. The solution says Hussen? “It starts with recognition and then it goes into being open to the solutions. The best people to offer those solutions are those who live with this every single day.” https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2020/06/03/justin-trudeau-says-he-wants-to-tackle-racism-ahmed-hussen-has-a-plan.html Related article: CBC News – Peter Zimonjic Stockwell Day exits CBC commentary role, corporate posts after comments about racism in Canada https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/stockwell-day-systemic-racism-canada-1.5597550 Related article: National Newswatch – Ghada Alatrash To Not Act Against Racism, Is To Put At Risk Our Democracy https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2020/06/03/to-not-act-against-racism-is-to-put-at-risk-our-democracy/#.XtkMW8B7k2w Related article: CBC News – Carol McNeil A look at anti-black racism in Canada https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1745657923936
CBC News – Catherine Tunney
CBSA warned Bill Blair that organized crime groups may be corrupting border officers – Briefing note to the minister warns that groups are ‘seeking to exploit CBSA systems, processes and personnel’
The news that organized crime is seeking to corrupt the Canadian Border Services Agency was given Minister of Public Safety Bill Blair when he first assumed his office late last year. “Under the heading “increasing threat complexity,” the CBSA warns of “growing evidence of transnational criminal organizations seeking to exploit CBSA systems, processes and personnel and employing increasingly sophisticated concealment methods.” https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cbsa-organized-crime-warning-1.5584691