Apr 25, 2022
Smart Justice Network Canada received the following invitation last week and we will respond with two experienced Network partners. However, we would also like to let our readers know of this event and suggest that you or your group may wish to pursue participation as well.
“On behalf of Public Safety Canada, we would like to invite you to participate in a virtual engagement session on the proposed automated sequestering of criminal records (ASCR) system on May 9, 2022 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time via ZOOM (additional dates will be added if required). You are welcome to invite one additional participant from your organization whom you feel may best represent members of the community you work with. For the purposes of this engagement, an ASCR system is defined as an automated program by which a criminal record would be kept separate and apart from other criminal records, at no cost and without an application by the individual, after they have completed their sentence and certain additional conditions are met, as required by legislation…
This engagement stems from the Government’s commitment to advance reforms to the record suspension program in order to address systemic barriers, promote reintegration and ensure the criminal justice system is fair and proportionate. As part of these reforms, Public Safety (PS) and portfolio agencies (Parole Board of Canada (PBC) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)) are exploring what would be needed for an ASCR system to be implemented in Canada. We are inviting organizations and individuals to share their views on how they foresee this system being implemented and what key issues and parameters should be considered.”
The focus is a more progressive view of dealing with the criminal record of offenders. The proposal is to end the present criminal record practice and pardons / record suspensions process thereby ending as well the secondary punishments for a criminal history, especially in employment. If you know of groups who might be interested in participating in that session, please encourage them to email ascrengagement-consultationracj@ps-sp.gc.ca with the subject line “Living/Lived Experience Engagement Session”.
Canadian Press – Jim Bronskill
Countrywide action to crack down on handguns needed, advocates tell federal minister
For a long time now, and without any real explanation, gun control has meant a focus on long rifles. Handguns, according to most advocates of gun control are a bigger problem but now the federal government wants to pass the responsibility along to the provinces where advocates say we invite a confusing and patchwork policy and enforcement. “Conferring power to the provinces to ban handguns will result in never-ending debates, legal challenges and the inevitable failure of whatever patchwork of laws are enacted — if any.” https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/04/21/countrywide-action-to-crack-down-on-handguns-needed-advocates-tell-federal-minister/#.YmP5hdPMI2x
Global News – Amanda Connolly
Widespread systemic racism in Canadian military ‘repulsing’ new recruits: report
The pre-occupation by the military with the allied commitments to NATO and the defence of its members, and the recent evidence of widespread sexual assault in the Forces has prompted some to think that the problems filling the need for recruits is related. Last week an inquiry into the murder / suicide of the Desmond family in Nova Scotia was concluded after 69 witnesses and 55 days of hearing, delayed from 2021 by the Covid. Today the Minister of Defence Anita Anand will release the report. The report suggests that a lot of agencies and service providers dropped the ball for a man suffering from PTSD and that racism played a significant role in the events. https://globalnews.ca/news/8772868/hearings-desmond-inquiry-conclude-in-nova-scotia/ Related article: CBC News – Lee Berthiaume Racism report to take military to task for not doing more over past 20 years – Review launched amid concerns of links to hate groups, right-wing extremism and white supremacy https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/military-report-racism-1.6429794 Related article: Toronto Star – Jacques Gallant Military ‘poorly implemented, discarded’ 20 years of recommendations on racism, discrimination: advisory panel – “It is quite clear that the defence team knows how to move quickly in the right direction, if it has the will,” says the final report. https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2022/04/25/canadian-military-poorly-implemented-discarded-20-years-of-recommendations-on-racism-and-discrimination-advisory-panel-says.html?source=newsletter&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=email&utm_email=404CAADEF7EB839FC77B1B04F0C251E1&utm_campaign=bn_120034
CBC News –
Edmonton police face scrutiny over police-involved shootings – Edmonton has had the most officer-involved shootings of any Canadian jurisdiction so far this year.
There is a controversy brewing around police killings in Canada. Edmonton City police are in the spotlight for the highest number of civilians killed by police. The controversy is not about the killings but whether the stats represent a momentary surge from co-incidence or if the stats represents an on-going reality. The controversy has also led to to notion that perhaps the Edmonton police are overly aggressive and that perhaps not all police constables need to be armed with pistols. https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2026637379736 Related article: CBC News – Edmonton leading the country in fatal police shootings in 2022 https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2026172483578
CBC News – Jorge Barrera
More than 200 boxes of records under scrutiny by Ottawa, courts for residential school connections – Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller says talks ongoing on disclosing of Justice Canada records
The records were found in Yellowknife and in Vancouver public storage facilities and are now subject to court review for relevance to the residential schools issues. Crown-Indigenous Relations (CIRNA) Minister Marc Miller: “As a court-appointed firm and federal officials sift through the records, CIRNA Minister Marc Miller said searches continue within his and other departments to find any documents related to the residential school era… “The state they were found in is entirely unacceptable,” Miller said in an interview with CBC News… It is part of this process that I continue as the minister … That work isn’t complete and is still ongoing — knowing any piece of information related to that time period can help in closure and getting an understanding of the truth.” https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/records-miller-review-1.6428192 Related article: CBC News – Olivia Stefanovich Vatican, Canadian bishops failing to work closely with AFN to plan Pope’s visit, says regional chief https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/afn-vatican-bishops-papal-visit-canada-misstep-1.6427580
Toronto Star – Laura Osman, The Canadian Press
Government calls inquiry into use of Emergencies Act – The Emergencies Act requires the government to call an inquiry into the use of the legislation within 60 days of revoking the declaration.
When government invoked the Emergency Act to deal with the Truckers’ Convey problems, government committed to a review of the use of the Emergency Act after its first use and expiry within 60 days. “Prime Minister Justin Trudeau named Ontario Appeal Court Justice Paul S. Rouleau as the inquiry commissioner. Rouleau must provide a final report in English and French to the federal government by Feb. 20, 2023.” https://www.thestar.com/politics/2022/04/25/government-must-call-inquiry-into-use-of-emergencies-act-today.html?source=newsletter&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=email&utm_email=404CAADEF7EB839FC77B1B04F0C251E1&utm_campaign=bn_120046 Related article: Ottawa Citizen – Megan Gillis Ottawa police call in backup for ‘Rolling Thunder’ event, vow to head off ‘another unlawful protest’ – City police say they have a plan and reinforcements coming to tackle this coming weekend’s “Rolling Thunder” event https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/police-call-in-back-up-for-rolling-thunder-protest-vow-to-head-off-another-unlawful-protest