Feb 14, 2022
Toronto Star Editorial – Feb 10, 2022
Response to occupation and blockades has been a massive failure of leadership – ‘Municipalities have been basically abandoned by politicians, who are playing jurisdictional games rather than figuring out an effective response to the occupation and blockades.’ https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2022/02/10/response-to-occupation-and-blockades-has-been-a-massive-failure-of-leadership.html?source=newsletter&utm_content=a03&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=email&utm_email=404CAADEF7EB839FC77B1B04F0C251E1&utm_campaign=top_105684 Related article: Toronto Star – Tonda MacCharles Ottawa police want more officers to deal with trucker convoy. But sources say ‘there is no plan’ for how to use them https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2022/02/13/ottawa-police-want-more-officers-to-deal-with-trucker-convoy-but-sources-say-there-is-no-plan-for-how-to-use-them.html Related article: Toronto Star – ‘Freedom convoy’ protests: Arrests made as police clear Ambassador Bridge blockade; Ottawa police criticized for not having plan for extra officers requested The latest on protests that have paralyzed downtown Ottawa as well as several border crossings between Canada and the United States. https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2022/02/13/freedom-convoy-news-police-have-cleared-a-week-long-protest-at-the-ambassador-bridge.html Related article: Toronto Star – Grant LaFleche Security expert. Mountie. Soldier: Meet three men working with the ‘Freedom convoy’ https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2022/02/12/security-expert-mountie-soldier-meet-three-men-working-with-the-freedom-convoy.html?li_source=LI&li_medium=thestar_canada Related article: CBC News Christian Paas-Lang and Catharine Tunney Lack of enforcement in Ottawa ‘inexplicable’: Blair https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/emergencies-act-military-ottawa-protests-1.6350236 Related article: CTV News – Rachel Aiello Feds prepared to use emergency powers to end blockades, but police must ‘do their job’: Blair https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/feds-prepared-to-use-emergency-powers-to-end-blockades-but-police-must-do-their-job-blair-1.5779589 Related article: Toronto Star – Robin Sears Warning bells have rung for years over the risk of American money flowing into Canadian politics – The most alarming aspect of the truckers’ protests is the hole blown in our walls of protection against foreign influence in Canadian political life. https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2022/02/13/warning-bells-have-rung-for-years-over-the-risk-of-american-money-flowing-into-canadian-politics.html Related article: CBC News – Joanne Chianello City brokers deal for most trucks to leave Ottawa’s residential neighbourhoods https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-deal-protesters-leave-downtown-core-1.6350170 Related article: CBC News – Michael Gorman Politicians, academics worry where extremist behaviour in Canada could lead – Politicians’ offices targeted this week with chemical irritants, N.S. Legislature closed due to threats https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/covid-19-protests-politicians-extremism-threats-1.6349254 Related article: Michael Spratt – Ottawa lawyer podcast Suing the Truckers – https://www.michaelspratt.com/podcasts/suing-the-truckers/ Related article: Toronto Star – Althea Raj Prime Minister Justin Trudeau seeking to invoke never-used Emergencies Act to deal with convoy protesters, sources say – Trudeau’s cabinet met last night to discuss the issue. It’s the first time the Emergencies Act could be enacted. https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2022/02/14/prime-minister-justin-trudeau-seeking-to-invoke-never-used-emergencies-act-to-deal-with-convoy-protesters-sources-say.html?source=newsletter&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=email&utm_email=404CAADEF7EB839FC77B1B04F0C251E1&utm_campaign=bn_106120
Toronto Star – Staff
Truck loaded with firearms stolen in Peterborough Sunday, police say – Peterborough police are investigating an early morning theft of a truckload of firearms. (No detail for now except to say the load was long rifles and magazines) https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2022/02/13/truck-loaded-with-firearms-stolen-in-peterborough-sunday-police-say.html Related article: Toronto Star – Omar Mosleh RCMP seize stash of guns, ammo and make 11 arrests at Coutts, Alta. border protest – Police seized 13 long guns, handguns, multiple sets of body armour, a machete, a large quantity of ammunition as well as high-capacity magazines. https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2022/02/14/rcmp-seize-haul-of-guns-ammo-and-make-11-arrests-at-coutts-alta-border-protest.html?source=newsletter&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=email&utm_email=404CAADEF7EB839FC77B1B04F0C251E1&utm_campaign=bn_106139
Government of Canada – Dr. Ivan Zinger, Correctional Investigator
Annual Report 2020-2021
Dr. Zinger under the terms of his appointment is obligated to make an annual report to the government of Canada on the state of the Correctional Services. The report is a 137 page downloadable pdf available at the link below. Zinger notes a time lag between writing the report, presenting it to Parliament and offering it to the general public. He addresses the covid problem for prisons, he speaks to the issues around women’s prison, mostly dormant since the 30 year old Creating Choices, today’s technology in rehab education, and a specific report on the use of the structured intervention Units (use of solitary) He wants a closer liaison between corrections and an enhanced capacity of community services in the rehabilitation. His first two recs are worth quoting:
- I recommend that the Minister of Public Safety engage the Public Health Agency
of Canada to conduct an independent epidemiological study of the differential
rates of COVID-19 infection and spread in Canadian federal prisons and report
results and recommendations publicly. - I recommend that the Minister of Public Safety promptly conduct an in-depth review
of the community corrections sector with a view to considerably enhancing financial,
technical and infrastructure supports. Funding for a reinvigorated community
corrections model could be re-profiled from institutional corrections in direct
proportion to declining warrants of committal and returning admissions, and
the planned and gradual closures of redundant or archaic penitentiaries.
Zinger has also attached an annex on the process of the reporting required of the Correctional Investigator. Full Report https://www.oci-bec.gc.ca/cnt/rpt/pdf/annrpt/annrpt20202021-eng.pdf Related article: CTV News – Erica Ibrahim Indigenous and Black federal inmates see more use of force: correctional investigator “We’ve seen incredible increases in use of force in the past couple of years,” said correctional investigator Ivan Zinger… “We’ve seen also increases in suicide attempts and self-harm. And that only suggests the frustration and psychological harm that is going on here.” https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/indigenous-and-black-federal-inmates-see-more-use-of-force-correctional-investigator-1.5776455?utm_source=Morning+Brief&utm_campaign=a2aac83d2a-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2016_12_02_COPY_1279&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a43c5d924a-a2aac83d2a-206962393 Related article: Blogger Russell Webster Serious concerns about the state of our women’s prisons https://www.russellwebster.com/serious-concerns-about-the-state-of-our-womens-prisons/ Related article: The Marshall Project – Keri Blakinger The Rise and Fall of a Prison Town Queen – A family feud over drugs, money and fried fish roils the heart of the Texas prison system. https://www.themarshallproject.org/2022/02/10/rise-and-fall-of-a-prison-town-queen Related article: Bangor Daily News (US) – Callie Ferguson Maine’s prison chief disputes hours of testimony, saying solitary confinement isn’t used https://bangordailynews.com/2022/02/10/news/maines-prison-chief-disputes-hours-of-testimony-saying-solitary-confinement-isnt-used/
Toronto Star – Grant LaFleche
At least 20% of Ontario PPC candidates have participated in hostile anti-vaccine protests. Why some say their attendance legitimizes dangerous beliefs – When asked about PPC candidates presence at the protests, a senior party spokesperson replied: “Get lost, f—ing idiot.”
“A review of local news stories and the social media accounts of all 116 Ontario PPC candidates found 25 made posts about taking part in the protests, which have drawn the ire of hospital officials and politicians.” https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal-election/2021/09/17/at-least-20-of-ontario-ppc-candidates-have-participated-in-hostile-hospital-and-anti-vaccine-protests-why-some-say-their-attendance-legitimizes-dangerous-beliefs.html Related: Tweet from Olivia Rania Bowden: “For everyone that has been paying attention, there has been a documented rise of right-wing extremism in Canada for the last several years. Canada has never been outside these global trends. And people of colour have been very vocal about it. https://twitter.com/OliviaBowden__/status/1493260924404346881?s=03 (cf string) Related article: Toronto Star – Alex Boutilier (Dated Oct 2018) Rise of right-wing extremists presents new challenge for Canadian law enforcement agencies – Far-right groups are multiplying and attempting to build bridges as law enforcement and spy agencies reassess the threat. https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2018/10/07/rise-of-right-wing-extremists-presents-new-challenge-for-canadian-law-enforcement-agencies.html
The Intercept (US) – Aleen Brown
Climate and Punishment – Boiling behind Bars, Dark, smoky cells, and Trapped in the floods is a series presenting an effort to expose the direct impact of climate change on prisons in areas where the prison itself has been impact by severe weather.
Smoke-filled cells. Triple-digit temperatures. Chest-deep water. People behind bars can’t flee when climate disasters strike. The Intercept mapped climate risks for 6,500 detention facilities. In some already miserable places, the suffering is set to intensify.
Brown provides a series of topics and commentaries on the deteriorating physical safety of prisons impacted by severe weather and climatic weather changes. https://theintercept.com/series/climate-and-punishment/