Canada
Canada's Federal Jail population set to rise 70 percent
Submitted by Jacob Hunter on Fri, 03/05/2010 - 10:46am
By. Kat LeeA city co-sponsored feasibility study lists three pieces of legislation the federal government wants passed, each one of which would result in more people headed for federal jail cells.
One piece of legislation calls for minimum sentences for serious drug cases, another would end the practice of lopping off two days for every day a person is sentenced if that person has been in jail since first arrested and another would impose mandatory jail time for fraud.
The new sentence requirements could boost the federal jail population by 70 per cent, the study suggests.
Vote Online for Legalization of Marijuana in Canada
Submitted by Jacob Hunter on Thu, 03/11/2010 - 11:38am
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has decided to ask the Internet what issue is most pressing to Canadians.
We have a chance to push marijuana legalization to the top of that list (It's currently #2 and #3). You don't have to be Canadian to participate, so please, wherever you're from, help us legalize marijuana in Canada.
Please, click here to vote for marijuana legalization! Let's make marijuana the #1 and #2 questions to Stephen Harper!
This is our chance to force this issue front and centre before the Prime Minister, so please, vote today.
Jaffer avoids criminal charges, leaving questions unanswered
Submitted by Nicole Seguin on Wed, 03/10/2010 - 1:14pm
Tu Thanh Ha, Globe and MailOntario School Board Fails in Attempt to Expell Student for At Home Marijuana Use
Submitted by Jacob Hunter on Tue, 03/09/2010 - 11:46am
Posted By KENNEDY GORDON, Peterburough Examiner
Jean Grant says her son was a test case for a new school rule -- and her battle with the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board was a test case for parents who refuse to back down.
"I want other parents to know what school boards can do, what principals and vice-principals have the power to do," Grant said Monday.
In what Grant calls the first case of its kind, the Superior Court of Justice rejected an appeal filed by the board, which wanted to keep her son out of high school and was fighting a Child and Family Services Review Board decision to keep him in class.
Grant's son, now 18, was expelled from PCVS in December 2008 after a school investigation determined he and several other boys had consumed and sold marijuana.
Board officials could not be reached for comment.
Grant admits her son used marijuana, but not on school property.
Public safety minister's ruling inadequate, judge rules
Submitted by Jacob Hunter on Mon, 03/08/2010 - 11:06am
Justice calls minister's refusal to let Canadian return from Costa Rica to serve his time ‘arbitrary;' lawyer alleges racial bias
By. Paul Koring, Globe and Mail
Public Safety Minister Vic Toews has been ordered to reconsider the Harper government's refusal to allow a Canadian citizen to return home to serve out his prison sentence.
In an unprecedented federal court ruling, the minister was given 45 days to explain and justify or reconsider the decision. It seems “inconsistent and arbitrary, and therefore it lacks transparency,” ruled Mr. Justice Robert Barnes of the Federal Court.
Yavar Hameed, the lawyer representing Dwayne Grant, the Canadian black man denied permission to return home, said he believed bias played a role in the Harper's government's decision. Mr. Grant, 26, is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence in Costa Rica where he was convicted, along with three others, of attempting to smuggle cocaine into Canada. He application to transfer home was rejected last July by then public safety minister Peter Van Loan. Two of those convicted with him – both women and also black – were allowed to return to Canada by Mr. Van Loan and are now free.
Canadian Seed Seller Avoids Jail Sentence
Submitted by Jacob Hunter on Wed, 03/03/2010 - 5:25pm
By. Jeremiah Vandermeer, Cannabis CultureA judge sentenced the wealthy Montreal businessman to two years less a day to be served in the community.
Crime bills to be scrutinized, Liberals warn
Submitted by Jacob Hunter on Wed, 03/03/2010 - 12:12pm
By. Shannon Kari, National Post
One of the stated reasons for the prorogation of Parliament was that the resetting of Senate committees would better allow the Tories to pass their crime legislation, parts of which had been held up in the Upper Chamber in the past.
But the Liberal justice critic says his party is not going to approve speedy passage of all the crime legislation through the House of Commons -- even if that leads to accusations of being labeled "soft on crime" -- when Parliament resumes this week.
"What you are going to see in the coming weeks is a more focused discussion from us," said Dominic LeBlanc. "We are not going to be wedged anymore. We will look at each bill one-by-one to see if it is more effective for public safety," the New Brunswick MP explained.
41 judges who got promotions had given Tories money: study
Submitted by Jacob Hunter on Wed, 03/03/2010 - 10:50am
By Janice Tibbetts And Glen McGregor, Canwest News Service
A strong majority of judges who made political donations before being elevated to the federal bench in recent years contributed to the Conservative party.
It's a finding that suggests the Harper government is favouring those who are politically like-minded.
An Ottawa Citizen- Canwest News Service analysis found that 41 judges appointed by the Conservatives to the prestigious postings had donated to the party or its candidates since 2004.
What does “Tough on Crime” Mean?
Submitted by Jacob Hunter on Tue, 03/02/2010 - 5:03pm
Harper’s tough-on-crime policy may just hurt Aboriginal women
Prime Minister Stephen Harper ushered in five new senators at the end of January to help solidify his tough-on-crime policy, but tough on crime might just mean being tougher on some of Canada’s most marginalized people.
For the Native Women’s Association of Canada’s Sisters in Spirit (SIS) initiative, the new appointments did cause some alarm as stacking the Senate means that the Conservative’s legislative law-and-order agenda gets a right of way. The only problem is that this might mean more policing and under protecting Canada’s Aboriginal women.
Afghanistan: EXIT sign for Europe - Trend News Commentator
Submitted by Nicole Seguin on Thu, 02/25/2010 - 1:51pm
Trend News European Desk Head Aynur Gasimova 
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