Feb 3, 2017
Toronto Star – Shree Paradkar
In wake of Quebec mosque attack comes amazing gesture with rings of peace
An interfaith gesture of solidarity with the Muslim community took place in North York (Ontario) as the Muslim community was celebrating the lives of those Muslims killed in the Quebec City mosque. People from Holy Blossom Jewish Temple in Toronto joined in a ring of peace around the mosque – no words or singing, just hands joined to envelope the peace and protection of those inside the mosque. Inside, Imam Abdul Aziz Suraqah, Imdadul Islamic Centre, North York, articulated beautifully the sentiment: “For, though we are grieving and many in our communities are afraid and feeling victimized, the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not come to teach us to be paralyzed by our fears or to wallow in self-pity, or to be mouthpieces for grievances. He came to teach us how to heal and how to be healers, how to respond to ugliness with beauty, how to be fully human in times of ease and in hardship.” https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/02/03/in-wake-of-quebec-mosque-attack-comes-amazing-gesture-of-peace-paradkar.html
Toronto Star – Martin Regg Cohn
Making sense of the massacre in our midst – By fetishizing Islamic dress and politicizing “barbaric” cultural acts, have our politicians demonized Muslims?
“Canada is a world away from the tensions and complications of the Middle East. And yet, today, Canadians are trying to fathom an equally fanatical act — a massacre in our midst. Terror can strike in any place, at any time. No community is immune. But our society can lead the way by learning the lessons of history, and humanity, at home and abroad.” https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/01/30/making-sense-of-the-massacre-in-our-midst-cohn.html Related article: iPolitics – Ian MacDonald A poisoned political culture erupts in bloodshed http://ipolitics.ca/2017/01/31/a-poisoned-political-culture-erupts-in-bloodshed/ Related article: International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group (ICLMG) Anne Dagenais Guertin and Tim McSorley Fighting Hate in the Wake of the Quebec City Mosque Shooting: 5 Ways the Trudeau Government Can Act Now! http://iclmg.ca/fighting-hate-in-the-wake-of-the-quebec-city-mosque-shooting-5-ways-the-trudeau-government-can-act-now/
iPolitics – Ratna Omidvar
It is time for Immigration 3.0
Omidvar has just been named a senator with a distinguished history of involvement with immigration and diversity issues. She examines the politics of historic immigration in Canada, faults and failures included, and suggest that Canada needs now to enter a third version – 3.0 – and understanding for immigrations and refugee policy. The first entailed immigration on the basis of race, the second a point system approach and now the third, “rooted in values of civility, compassion, proportion, reason and innovation.” http://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/january-2017/it-is-time-for-immigration-3-0/ Related article: National Post – David Akin Trump has no problem with Canada’s refugee vetting, even as he looks to toughen U.S. rules http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-politics/trump-has-no-problem-with-canadas-refugee-vetting-even-as-he-looks-to-toughen-u-s-rules
CBC News
Why accused in Quebec City mosque shooting isn’t likely to face terrorism charges – Terrorism charges would have little impact on potential sentence, legal experts say
Canada’s penalty for multiple murders is life in prison without a chance for parole for 25 years, now available to the courts as 25 years per count, or in this case, if convicted, 150 in prison without parole, a sentence more severe than terrorism charges. There may well be some symbolic significance for the Muslim community by the addition of terrorism charges but experts say no difference to sentencing. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/why-accused-in-quebec-city-mosque-shooting-isn-t-likely-to-face-terrorism-charges-1.3961837 Related article: Globe and Mail – Les Perreaux and Colin Freeze Arrest made after hate crimes spike following Quebec mosque attack http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/police-report-rise-in-hate-crimes-after-quebec-city-mosque-attack/article33856702/ Related article – Ottawa Citizen Editorial (Jan 30, 2017) We are all Muslims now http://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-we-are-all-muslims-now
The Tyee (BC) – Andrew Nikiforuk
On Jessica Ernst, and the Vagaries of Justice in Canada – Landowner’s ruling shows our legal system can easily lose sight of its mission
The question is: can a statutory immunity clause pre-empt the right of charter challenge. The Supreme Court and much of the legal community is in turmoil over a split decision prohibiting Jessica Ernst from pursuing the Alberta Energy Regulator, offering free license to the regulator. Complicating matters, Ernst has been identified as a “vexatious litigant” by Justice Rosalie Abella. Normally such a finding means no more access to the court. https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2017/02/02/Jessica-Ernst-Vagaries-of-Justice/
The Toronto Star – Alex Boutilier
Goodale orders review into illegal CSIS metadata program
About ten years, it appears. That’s how long CSIS has been collecting and preserving meta data on Canadians in whom there is only accidental inclusion. These are non-threat individuals and the problem lies not only in the original collection of this data but also in the decision and provision for keeping the data. A federal court ruled the practice illegal last year and CSIS claims to suspended access to its data base but Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale is not sure if the government will re-institute the measures under the new Security Intelligence Review Committee. https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/02/02/goodale-orders-review-into-illegal-csis-metadata-program.html