Nova Scotia massacre again drives home urgent need for action on gun control, gender violence
OTTAWA—At a raucous party in Portapique, N.S., some years ago, the shooter in the recent massacre had an argument with his girlfriend, removed the tires from her car so she couldn’t leave, and then locked her out of their house, a long-time neighbour recalled. Trying to help the girlfriend, John Hudson went to the house […]
The U.S. COVID response is a strong lesson in what not to do
OTTAWA—As COVID-19 has now affected the entire globe, it is interesting to observe just how it has impacted different cultures, aside from actual mortality rates or those measures governments have taken to contain the spread of the virus. In Italy, for instance, one of those countries that has been exceptionally hard hit by COVID-19, locked […]
Prison farm program should be broadened to increase prisoner distancing amid COVID-19, advocate argues
Prison farm programs in two Ontario institutions could be broadened to help alleviate the impact of COVID-19, says an advocate whose call is bolstered by two Parliamentarians, who say the Correctional Service of Canada needs to do a better job protecting prisoners from the virus. Between the two southern Ontario prisons in question—Collins Bay Institution […]
‘Canada’s forgotten public health emergency’: opioid crisis rages amid the pandemic, says former Harper aide
With public health officials largely preoccupied with beating back the spread of the stealthy coronavirus, Benjamin Perrin, a former senior aide to then-prime minister Stephen Harper, says the collision of the pandemic with the opioid crisis has the makings of a “perfect storm.” Given that a potential vaccine for COVID-19 is still likely many months, […]
How quickly can the COVID-19 crackdown turn into cracking the whip on Black and brown bodies?
OTTAWA—Evidently, the killing of Black men by the police is an essential service. Last week, Peel Regional Police in Brampton, Ont., shot and killed D’Andre Campbell, a 26-year-old Black man with a known—as in, known to the police—history of mental health issues. It was Campbell who called the police on April 6 and it was […]
‘Critical situation’ in prisons as health-care workers threaten to walk over lack of protective equipment
Health-care workers in Canada’s federal prison system are on the verge of walking off the job over coronavirus-related safety concerns, according to their union, as pressure mounts on other public servants who would be tasked with handling the early release of inmates. “This is a very critical situation that we’re trying to resolve” with the […]
COVID-19 illuminating challenges of democratic governance
Is COVID-19 a blessing in disguise? Patients infected or dying from COVID-19 are the least likely to think so. This virus has shaken a number of concepts that many citizens of democratic societies take for granted. Reviews of how this crisis has been handled by governments, and global efforts at bracing for its impacts, will […]
Government should be careful in using cellphone data to track COVID-19, advocates say
Privacy experts and the Conservatives are warning the federal government that if it follows the lead of other countries and begins using cellphone location data to track the spread of COVID-19, it should do so under strict limits and safeguards for Canadians’ privacy. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) said on March 24 the federal […]
A call for humility in national security ‘expertise’
OTTAWA—‘Experts’ can help Canadians understand national security and public safety threats, but only if they are truly knowledgeable. One thing I have tried to be consistent in since my retirement from a 32-year career in national security in this country is an honest assessment of what I know and what I can contribute to the […]
Reconciliation is wearing Eau de Colonialism 2020
OTTAWA—Do you hear that? It’s the sound of reconciliation buckling under the oppressive weight of white supremacy. Ostensibly, Canada was founded on the principles of “peace, order, and good government,” and apart from missing the necessary aspirational quality expected in the birth of a nation, the list of principles is missing one defining feature: white […]
