Indefinite solitary confinement in Canadian prisons ruled unconstitutional by B.C. court:
B.C. Civil Liberties Association had challenged federal government on 'inhuman' practice.
B.C.Supreme Court Justice Peter Leask has ruled the laws around using extended solitary confinement as a means to discriminate against Aborigines and mentally ill inmates as unconstitutional. He also notes that such treatment often leads to serious psychological harm including suicide.
The B.C. Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) and the John Howard Society of Canada (JHSC) brought the challenge against the federal government, arguing that rules regarding administrative segregation, more commonly known as solitary confinement, are inhuman and unconstitutional.
snip
In his ruling, Leask cited many of the tragic cases which brought the issue of solitary confinement to the forefront in recent years, including that of Ashley Smith, a 19-year-old who died in a segregated prison cell in Kitchener, Ont., in 2007. A coroner's jury ruled Smith's self-inflicted choking death was a homicide.
The judge also cites the death of Edward Snowshoe, a 22-year-old who took his own life at the Edmonton Institution in August 2010 after spending more than five months in segregation. A public inquiry concluded he had "fallen through the cracks" and that corrections officials were unaware he had attempted suicide numerous times at a previous facility and that he had been in segregation as long as he had.
www.cbc.ca/…
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McMaster explorer completes 4,000 km solo journey across vast arctic tundra:
One of Canada's greatest modern explorers is a PhD student at McMaster University.
Adam Shoalt, a McMaster University’s PhD student and author, has decided to journey from northern Yukon to Baker Lake, Nunavut...a 4,000 mile journey. It doesn’t seem that impressive. until you realize there are no roads at all, not even paths. Well maybe a few game trails. And the obstacles to be overcome are mountains, rivers and lakes. Plus the weather (NASTY in winter!) and all the usual inhabitants, including the 14 bears he ran across and wolves. It was NOT a trip for the faint of heart. But Shoalts is a member of the Explorers Club and a fellow in the Royal Canadian Geographical Society so felt capable of taking on the challenge.
The 12- to 13-hour days he spent hauling his 15-foot canoe and travelling could be lonely. "Over the course of my whole journey, which spanned nearly four months, I went a couple of times a full month without seeing another human," he said.
The brief moments of respite from the solitude came when bush plane pilots would meet him with resupplies, food rations and camera batteries at different points along the route.
"It was kind of exciting after being alone in the wilderness for a month to see another human face for the first time and ask what's going on in the world. What's the news, I haven't heard CBC at all, so tell me, who won the Stanley Cup?"
www.cbc.ca/…
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Canada to reconsider Extradition Act in wake of Diab case:
10-year ordeal suffered by Ottawa professor reveals system that puts Canadians' rights last.
After nearly 10 years of being arrested on terrorism charges, former University of Ottawa professor, Hassan Diab, was finally freed and the charges stemming from a 1980 bombing of a French synagogue were dropped. The case has opened up a discussion about laying new groundwork on extradition and the rules around it...and likely a good look at what countries we have extradition treaties with. There are many countries Canada extradites to, but they don’t reciprocate.
In the case of Mr Diab, it seems that Canada extradited on very flimsy evidence (that has now been found worthless and wrong). And questions are being asked about how this travesty that took a citizen of this country away from his home and family to spend 3 years in prison in France after spending 6 years on house arrest in Canada.
www.cbc.ca/…
Two people were ultimately responsible for this farago:
Ontario Superior Court Justice Robert Maranger and the Minister of Justice at that time, Rob Nicholson.
Maranger, who granted France's extradition request in 2011, was blunt in his assessment of France's case, saying it was "very problematic" and drew "suspect conclusions."
"The prospects of conviction in the context of a fair trial seem unlikely," Maranger predicted.
But Maranger only had the power to commit Diab. Only Nicholson could actually surrender him. And did so even though the evidence was suspect, stating that:
"While France's legal system differs from that which operates in Canada, I must assume, based on the principles of comity and good faith, that France will treat Mr Diab fairly, even if the evidentiary and procedural requirements under which he would be tried are at variance with our own."
Eventually, the evidence...some handwriting analysis and Diab’s passport showing that he was NOT in France at the time of the attack ( he was in Lebanon sitting an exam at the time)... was dismissed and Diab freed.
www.cbc.ca/…
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Vancouver Aquarium will no longer keep whales, dolphins in captivity:
CEO says public debate and conflict with park board 'is debilitating our work on our mission'
In a unanimous decision by the Vancouver Park Board last spring voted to prevent the Aquarium from bringing in any new whales or dolphins. Now the CEO of Vancouver Aquarium, John Nightingale, has finally conceded to fight. Nightingale thought that the cetacean program was beneficial to both humans and cetaceans and stopping it would mean opportunities to do research would be lost. But the public and the board didn’t see it that way:
"The public told us they believed the continuing importation and display of these intelligent and sociable mammals was unethical and incompatible with evolving public opinion and we amended our bylaws accordingly. We look forward to working with the Vancouver Aquarium as it intensifies its focus on Ocean Wise research and conservation," said a statement from park board chair Stuart Mackinnon.
Since the board reached its decision, two more cetaceans have died; Chester, a false killer whale who was rescued when found starving and dehydrated in Tofino (on Vancouver Island), and a harbour porpoise named Daisy. And that leaves just one left; Helen, a white sided dolphin. She will either have to be moved to a new location (which involves risks) or a new companion will have to be found….which would now go against the board’s decision.
The decision to end the cetacean program won't affect the aquarium's work in rescuing stranded and distressed whales and dolphins, he added.
The difference now is any rehabilitated animal that can't be released back into the wild will have to be transferred to another facility once they're healthy enough.
www.cbc.ca/…
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Sorry, skeets in backhoes: Merb'ys is the N.L. Word of the Year
St. John’s Morning Show, MUN linguistics prof pose a question about the talk of the town
Paul De Decker, an associate professor at Memorial University posed a question on the St. John's Morning Show asking listeners to nominate suggestions for Word of the Year and the submissions were (as can be expected in a province known for its colourful and unique language) rather unusual...”Luh” from one lady; “Job to say” was another suggestion. But the one that won the hearts and contest of Newfoundlanders was:
Merb’ys
“Ah, okay,” you say...”just what is a Merb’ys”
The word Merb'ys came into usage when members of the Newfoundland and Labrador Beard and Moustache Club posed — as the bearded, male answer to the mermaid — for a fundraising calendar.
After getting attention worldwide, the Beard and Moustache Club raised $300,466.53 and donated it to Spirit Horse N.L, a group that enhances life skills through interaction with horses.
“Definitely Mer'bys ! They created a new word, had coverage around the world , raised hundreds of thousands of dollars and gave everyone a smile!”
— @snoostorm
The intention of Mr De Drecker is to try and preserve Newfoundland’s unique culture and language use. Some of it is making a comeback thru comedy and there is even one young clothing designer who uses phrases like “fries before b’ys” or “froze ta det” and “skeet” on her clothing brand.
www.cbc.ca/…
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Beer... in this place: new road signs point to nearest brews
Province's new blue beer signs let travellers know where they can grab some local suds
It seems that New Brunswick tourist board has come up with a new way to entice travellers to their fair province… highway signs that show where a pub or micro-brewery may be found. The blue signs depict a foaming mug of beer that is sure to whet a tourist’s thirst for the amber brew. However, the signs are meant only to signal that there is a micro-brewery ahead, not a drinking establishment.
Still, there are some who feel the message behind the image of a roadside beer should be clarified.
"We have a great microbrewery industry in New Brunswick and we need to tell everyone about it," said David Coon, leader of the Green Party. "But I think the sign that they've got is misleading.
"It suggests that you're going to be able to pull off the highway to a sports bar or something and grab a quick cold beer."
www.cbc.ca/…
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Feds Trigger NAFTA Measures Over Softwood Lumber, Bombardier Disputes
The U.S. plans to impose duties of nearly 300 per cent on Bombardier.
The federal government has filed requests for a panel review under Chapter 19 of NAFTA :
The notices follow the U.S. Department of Commerce's plans to impose duty rates of nearly 300 per cent on future imports of Bombardier's C Series aircraft, and the U.S. International Trade Commission's determination that softwood lumber imported from Canada is subsidized and hurts the U.S. industry.
NAFTA Chapter 19's dispute resolution mechanism means Canada can get a panel made up of American and Canadian trade experts to decide if the duties follow U.S. trade law, rather than going through the U.S. court system.
www.huffingtonpost.ca/…
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Donald Trump's 1st Year In White House Has Canadians Worried About Rest Of His Term: Poll
There are still three more years to go.
Yes...Canadians are stressed about the Mango Cheetolini in the White House after just one year of his presidency.
Seventy per cent of respondents in a new Angus Reid Institute (ARI) survey expressed a negative opinion about the American leader, who marks his first year in power on Saturday. Just one-in-eight (13 per cent) said they had a positive view.
There isn't much optimism for the rest of Trump's term, either. Seventy-seven per cent of respondents said they were concerned about the next three years. That's a jump from a February 2017 poll, when 68 per cent of respondents told ARI they were worried about his (then) four-year spell in the White House.
And quelle suprise…
Breaking down the poll's results by political affiliation, ARI found that Conservative voters showed the highest support rate for the president. Twenty-seven per cent expressed a positive view of the leader's first year in power, while 48 per cent had a negative impression.
The vast majority of Liberal and NDP supporters — 85 and 79 per cent, respectively — had a negative impression of Trump.
www.huffingtonpost.ca/…
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In Other News:
1) Toronto Makes Shortlist Of Candidates For Amazon's 2nd Headquarters:
The company plans to invest more than $5 billion into the forthcoming headquarters and hire 50,000 highly paid employees.
www.huffingtonpost.ca/…
2) This Canadian Hockey Hero Is Bringing Love Of Sport To India's Girls: video.
www.huffingtonpost.ca/…
3) Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains Calls 'Bullshit' On Corporate Excuses For Not Promoting Diversity
Liberal legislation seeks to push corporate Canada to do better.
www.huffingtonpost.ca/...