June 22, 2023 – Outrageous response
Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH)
Stop Barrie City Council Criminalizing Homelessness
This approach to a problem reaches the apex of Not-in-my-backyard – go to someone else’s backyard. The Barrie (Ontario) City Council which has a problem with homelessness is looking at a law that bans any sort of emergency relief – food water or and housing – to the homeless, in effect criminalizing common kindness. “The City of Barrie is voting on an extreme by-law which will stop anyone from helping out people experiencing homelessness by offering them food, water, blankets or any material help at all. Anyone seen helping anyone else by distributing free food items could be staring at a $5,000 fine.” CAEH has a petition at the link. https://action.caeh.ca/barrie Related article: CTV News – Rachel Aiello Canada disability benefit bill passes Parliament (Bill C-22) https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/canada-disability-benefit-bill-passes-parliament-1.6448999
The Conversation (Queen’s) – Andrea Garner and Melissa Dockrill Garrett
New Brunswick’s LGBTQ+ safe schools debate makes false opponents of parents and teachers
The law in New Brunswick is called Policy 713 and is drawing all sorts of criticism about what it means in practical application, how the new policy differs from the old one, what it means for the LGBTQ+ students, what it means for the professional staffs of the schools, what it means for the people who will practice its demands, and what its future impact on all concerned will be. “In New Brunswick, the premier and education minister sparked backlash and contentious debate after a recent call to review policy that sets minimum standards for establishing safe, welcoming, inclusive and affirming learning environments for students, families and allies who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ (Policy 713).” Elements of controversy have also attended policy making as well in Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta. https://theconversation.com/new-brunswicks-lgbtq-safe-schools-debate-makes-false-opponents-of-parents-and-teachers-207600?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest%20from%20The%20Conversation%20for%20June%2021%202023&utm_content=Latest%20from%20The%20Conversation%20for%20June%2021%202023+CID_0c6e5f1c0b4ff66201c3826d5781e57b&utm_source=campaign_monitor_ca&utm_term=makes%20false%20opponents%20of%20parents%20and%20teachers Related article: CBC News – Jessica Mundie N.B. premier stands by changes to school LGBTQ policy, says he does not want an election – ‘I don’t want to go to an election and that isn’t my intent to do that,’ said Premier Higgs https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/new-brunswick-blaine-higgs-policy-713-1.6880751 Related article: The Canadian Press – Brieanna Charlebois Fears for LGBTQ mental health, as flood of online hate spills into real world – Flood of hate spurs LGBTQ mental health fears https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/fears-for-lgbtq-mental-health-as-flood-of-online-hate-spills-into-real-world/article_5a0662b3-7833-59bf-9f63-14920a8a536e.html?utm_source=thecanadianpressnews.ca&utm_campaign=%2Fnewsletter%2Foptimize%2Fdaily-newsletter%2F%3F-dc%3D1687444206&utm_medium=email&utm_content=read%20more
Toronto Star Editorial Board (June 22, 2023)
Black Canadians suffer racism in the justice system. Efforts are needed to address it. A report reveals that 90 per cent of Black Canadians believe that racism in the criminal justice system is a serious problem.
“…the blindfold (on Lady Justice) originally represented the exact opposite. Initially intended as a criticism, the blindfold was added, possibly by 15th century artist German Albrecht Durer, to signify that Lady Justice was ignorant of the injustice inherent in the system… That seems a more apt metaphor given the results of Canada’s first Black Canadian National Survey, released last week by York University’s Institute for Social Research. The survey, which canvassed the opinions of thousands of people between March 2021 and August 2022, reveals that Canadians of all ethnicities believe our justice system is rife with racial bias.” https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2023/06/22/black-canadians-suffer-racism-in-the-justice-system-efforts-are-needed-to-address-it.html?source=newsletter&utm_content=a03&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=email&utm_email=404CAADEF7EB839FC77B1B04F0C251E1&utm_campaign=top_187923
CBC Metro Morning – Mary Wiens
Two Ugandan refugees share their stories about coming to Toronto, saying in the shelter system
As part of a FCJ Refugee Centre march in Toronto noting World Refugee Day, Denis Kanyali and Hamiisi Kikomeko fled Uganda. Denis is a political refugee. Hamisi left because of his sexual orientation. They tell their stories to Metro Morning’s Mary Wiens. The march was in favour of additional shelter space for an already very crowded system. https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-39-metro-morning/clip/15992254-two-ugandan-refugees-share-stories-coming-toronto-saying Related article: CTV News: Fakiha Baig, Canadian Press After escaping violence and persecution, LGBTQ2S+ refugees find peace in Canada https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/after-escaping-violence-and-persecution-lgbtq2s-refugees-find-peace-in-canada-1.6449704
Criminological Highlights (June 2023) – Anthony Doob and Rosemary Gartner
The following eight topics are covered in this edition: 1) Does the language used to describe those returning to the community from prison matter? 2) Can changing schools reduce crime? 3) What challenges still need to be addressed after a police service is made more diverse? 4) What makes victim compensation especially attractive to politicians? 5) Are classification instruments useful when classifying Indigenous prisoners? 6) How are first names important determinants of the sentencing of Black offenders? 7) Do judges follow the law? 8) When youths are arrested, are they the only ones who are punished? https://twitter.com/CrimHighlights/status/1671247030897836034?s=20 (Note: Doob and Gartner invite direct subscriptions to this always helpful, scholarly and free publication: Request addition to their mailing list at: https://www.crimhighlights.ca/
PBS (US) – Dana Miller Ervin
When Criminal Justice Systems Have to Deal with Mental Illness
When there is a mental health element to a criminal case, the most frequent assertion is that the mental health problem was the cause of the crime. “The vast majority of violent crimes aren’t committed by people living with mental illness. Studies show those with serious mental illness are many times more likely to be victims of crime than victimizers.” That said, Erik Ramsey’s case is illustrative of the real problems when mental health and criminality collide. The mental health court may hold at least a partial answer. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/criminal-justice-system-mental-illness/?utm_campaign=2023-06-20+PSPP&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Pew&subscriberkey=00Q0P00000oErugUAC
National Newswatch / Fraser Institute – Tegan Hill and Joel Emes
Governments in Canada spent more than $350 billion on corporate welfare
The conservative think-tank is reporting on a recent examination of the dollars involved in the federal, provincial and municipal subsidies to corporate Canada. The number is astounding and by all logic should end critique of the actual supports to vulnerable populations. The report also offers a by-province tax support cost per individual tax payer: tax concessions that are effectively government spending and that reduce the availability of choice in other government services. The conclusion from the Institute is equally daunting: “Clearly, business subsidies (a.k.a. corporate welfare) come with significant costs to Canadian taxpayers and government budgets. Because these subsidies do not produce the broad economic benefits that advocates claim, governments should rein in this spending and focus on pro-growth tax reductions.” https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/05/03/governments-in-canada-spent-more-than-350-billion-on-corporate-welfare/
Blogger Russell Webster (UK)
Health & Social Care for people on probation – Quality indicators to support health improvement for people on probation.
Webster is addressing the question about how one knows whether probation services to the recently released incarcerated persons is effective in the rehab process. The new research says that until the medical and social needs are known for this specific population, efforts at assessment of effectiveness will be misleading. “Many people under probation supervision are in poor health, but do not access care until crisis point. Often, services do not meet their needs. To change this we need to know more about these individuals’ health and social care needs, what services they access, their experiences when accessing services, and which of their needs are met and unmet.” https://www.russellwebster.com/health-social-care-for-people-on-probation/ Full Report from the University of Lincoln (UK) – Improving Health Care for People under Probationary Services https://probationhealth.blogs.lincoln.ac.uk/
Brennan Center for Justice (US) – Alicia Bannon and Michael Milov-Cordoba
Staggered 18-year terms would bring regular turnover to the bench. The result would be a Court that better reflects prevailing public values.
The considerable thrust to right wing conservative majority values and the acknowledged scandals among Supreme Court judges is prompting the speculation about how to best establish public rather than private or political party values in the appointment process. These authors are suggesting limiting the term of office to a specific number of years. “Proposals range from creating an ethics code to expanding the Court to stripping its jurisdiction. One of the most popular options would also be among the most transformative: establishing 18-year terms and regularized appointments for justices. Under this system, justices would sit in staggered terms of active service on the Court, such that a new vacancy would open every two years. Each president would have two, and only two, appointments during a four-year term.” https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/supreme-court-term-limits Full report: Available in Pdf at link.