March 17, 2013
CBC News – BC
B.C. prisoners’ rights group protests non-Christian chaplain layoffs
Chaplaincy services have been under the axe for some time now as contracts expire and positions are cut. The cuts are wreaking havoc in particular where part time chaplains have been employed. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2013/03/15/bc-prison-chaplain-minorities.html
Global News – James Keller
Border agents under fire at immigration hearing for reality show raid
The Canada Border Service Agency brought along on an immigration raid a reality show video crew and violated rights and privacy say their lawyers. http://www.globalnews.ca/entertainment/canada/border+agents+under+fire+at+immigration+hearing+for+reality+show+raid/6442829245/story.html
Calgary Herald – Darcy Henton
Wildrose mocks justice cuts with ‘crime coupons’
Cuts to the justice budget in Alberta have occasioned a tongue-in-cheek ‘crime coupon allowing a free pass on one minor crime. The coupon comes on the heels of Wildrose criticism in the legislature that the governing Tories are “soft on crime.” http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/alberta/Wildrose+mocks+justice+cuts+with+crime+coupons/8102442/story.html
Toronto Star – Jennifer Quinn
Toronto sex offender could be first Canadian convicted of child sex tourism in Cuba
The link offers a series of articles about Cuba as a new area for child sex tourism and the ease at which convicted Canadian sex offenders travel for pedophilia purposes overseas. http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2013/03/15/toronto_sex_offender_could_be_first_canadian_convicted_of_child_sex_tourism_in_cuba.html
Megaphone: Vancouver’s Street Paper – Will Damon
Hard Time: The human cost of the omnibus crime bill
A practical reflection on the immediate and long term consequences of ‘tough-on-crime’ for those to whom some discretion would be more helpful. http://megaphonemagazine.com/articles/631/hard-time-the-human-cost-of-the-omnibus-crime-bill
Telegram (Lancashire, UK)
Colne crime victim chairs new restorative justice board
A grandmother, outraged at the theft of the last photo of her daughter, is advocating a new role for other victims. She visited the offender in jail, went through a RJ process and now chairs the local RJ committee, inviting others to do likewise. http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/10294282.Colne_crime_victim_chairs_new_restorative_justice_board
CBC News – Ira Besan
From ‘Bible Bill’ to Stephen Harper, the evolution of faith-based politics
After offering a reminder of Canada’s historic political involvement with religious movements, Besan is certain that “the past two years of majority government has made it clear that faith-based politics and policies are clearly a factor in today’s Ottawa, much more so than in the past.” http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2013/03/14/f-vp-basen-faith-politics.html