Nov 5, 2014
Toronto Star Editorial:
Harper government should end its attack on refugees’ health
Government is facing today a court ordered restoration of health care for failed refugees and immigrant applicants. The refusal to offer medical care was deemed by Justice Anne McTavish of the Federal Court as “cruel and unusual punishment.” Federal Court of Appeal Justice Wyman W. Webb ruled in an appeal for a delay that federal delays to the Nov. 4 deadline were not warranted because of the harm that would be suffered by the refugees. http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2014/11/05/harper_government_should_end_its_attack_on_refugees_health_editorial.html# Related article: CBC News – Canadian Press Chris Alexander to ban immigrants in polygamous, forced marriages – Status of Women Minister Kellie Leitch joined immigration minister to reveal measures to ‘prevent abuse’ http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/chris-alexander-to-ban-immigrants-in-polygamous-forced-marriages-1.2824320
Canada.com – Ian MacLeod, Ottawa Citizen
RCMP unveils massive border security project
The Border Integrity Technology Enhancement Project will be worth $92 million and stretch from the Quebec-Maine border to Morrisburg (near Cornwall) and then along the St. Lawrence Seaway, across Lake Ontario, and ending just west of Toronto in Oakville. The system will be unmanned electronic devices tied into a central monitoring. Designed to be operational by 2017, and originally meant to confront cigarette smuggling, the big security question remaining is the impact of the anticipated reduction in the US federal funds for shared border security. http://www.canada.com/News/canada/RCMP+unveils+massive+border+security+project/10353240/story.html
Toronto Star
Senate OKs controversial prostitution bill
Canada’s senate has given approval to the third reading of the new prostitution law and needs only Royal Assent to become the law of the land. Critics say that the failure to decriminalize prostitution leaves sex trade workers still very vulnerable to violence. The SCC required changes to the old laws by December 2014 when it ruled the law on the books unconstitutional for its failure, among other causes, to protect the workers. Most think we are facing a SCC challenge to the new law on the grounds it does not comply with the safety provisions of the SCC directives. http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/11/06/senate_oks_controversial_prostitution_bill.html Related article: Thompson Reuters Foundation – Katie Nguyen British parliament to debate whether paying for sex should be illegal –MP http://www.trust.org/item/20141103172740-ra98u/?source=fiOtherNews3
Toronto Star – Jesse McLean
Canadian drug companies violating the law – Dozens of Canadian drug companies ‘non-compliant’ with law, according to records released by government in wake of Star investigation
Two dozen Canadian drug manufacturers have been declared ‘non-compliant’ with the regulations by Health Canada for serious violations in the manufacturing process. Once silent on inspection reports, Health Canada now makes some of the inspection reports public while it consults, apparently with the violators, about other parts of the inspections. http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/11/04/canadian_drug_companies_violating_the_law.html
Globe and Mail – Isabelle Duchaine
Poloz should push to end unpaid internships, not promote them
Duchaine takes exception to Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz advice that young people – unemployed at the 13.5% rate – should accept unpaid work within their field so as to fatten their resume rather than their wallets. Duchaine points out the 200,000 young people are supported by families and growing in student loan debt as well. If no jobs drive these young people back to school, the same circumstances, to judge by the pass seven years and the UN reports, may prevail without resolve: a cycle of school and unpaid internships. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/poloz-should-push-to-end-unpaid-internships-not-promote-them/article21453030 Related article: CBC News – Canadian Press Stephen Poloz comments on unpaid work raise ire of youth groups – Bank of Canada governor draws fire for suggesting students should work for free to get experience http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/stephen-poloz-comments-on-unpaid-work-raise-ire-of-youth-groups-1.2824388
Toronto Star –
Lawyer seeks ‘reassurance’ on Motherisk drug tests
Typically in child protection cases, the Toronto Sick Kids do hair analysis to see if the mother is a drug user. The practice and the reliability of the testing are at issue after a convicted mother was exonerated by a judge of the Court of Appeal tossed the conviction and blamed unreliable testing. http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/2014/11/05/reliability_of_motherisk_drug_testing_questioned.html
ThinkProgress – Nicole Flatow
Why Last Night Was Not Just Huge For Pot, But the Entire Criminal Justice System
‘Smart-on-crime’ appears to have won out in yesterday’s midterm US elections to judge by the number of progressive responses to the tough-on-crime regime of the past. Marijuana laws, sentencing reform (including California’s Proposition 47), bail reform and gun laws all passed with considerable majorities. http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/11/05/3589117/why-last-night-was-huge-for-criminal-justice