The owner of a Toronto pub located on city-owned beachfront land said Tuesday he plans to sue mayoral candidate Rob Ford for libel over comments the controversial politician made earlier this year.
The lawyer for George Foulidis, who owns the Boardwalk Pub on Lakeshore Boulevard in the Woodbine Park area of the Beach, confirmed to CBC News that Ford was served with papers naming him in a $6-million libel suit.
The action came after Foulidis demanded that Ford apologize for suggesting he bribed city officials to extend his lease on the pub to 2028 without opening up the food services concession, which Foulidis has run since the 1980s, to other bidders.
Ford refused to back down from his comments.
The lawsuit says Ford made the claims "purely for political purposes."
At issue are comments Ford made to the Toronto Sun in August about the city's renewed deal with Foulidis's company, Tuggs Inc., which also expanded his licence to sell merchandise and alcohol in other parts of the beachfront.
The mayoral candidate told the Sun editorial board the contract "stinks to high heaven" and "smacks of civic corruption."
Foulidis said at the time that the comments have damaged his reputation, hurt his business and caused embarrassment to his wife and family.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2010/10/12/toronto-ford-lawsuit.html#socialcomments#ixzz12D6u64rQ
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) ... Canada. Its name in French is Centre de Toxicomanie et de Santé Mentale.
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is a consortium of mental health clinics at several sites in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its name in French is Centre de Toxicomanie et de Santé Mentale. (The acronym CAMH is most commonly pronounced "Cam-H".)
Among the focuses of the organization are the assessment and treatment of schizophrenia, mood & anxiety disorders, and personality disorders. There is also a focus on addictions to alcohol, drugs, and problem gambling at the former ARF site. CAMH also has a Law and Mental Health Programme (forensic psychiatry and forensic psychology) and is a major research centre.
CAMH is a teaching hospital with central facilities located in Toronto and 26 community locations throughout the province of Ontario. CAMH is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto and is a Pan American Health Organization and World Health Organization Collaborating Centre.
In October 2008, CAMH was named one of "Canada's Top 100 Employers" by Mediacorp Canada Inc., and was featured in Maclean's newsmagazine. Later that month, CAMH was also named one of Greater Toronto's Top Employers, which was announced by the Toronto Star newspaper.[1]
Contents [hide]
1 Facilities
1.1 Clarke Institute of Psychiatry
1.2 Addiction Research Foundation
1.3 Donwood Institute
1.4 Queen Street Mental Health Centre
2 References
3 External links
Facilities
CAMH was formed in 1998 as a result of the merger of the Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, the Addiction Research Foundation, the Donwood Institute and Queen Street Mental Health Centre.[2]
] Clarke Institute of Psychiatry
CAMH College Street siteThe hospital was founded in 1966 and named the Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, after Charles Kirk Clarke, a pioneer in mental health in Canada.
Much of their work focuses on forensic psychology and research designed to shape public policy.[citation needed]
The former Clarke Institute building is now referred to as the College St. site of CAMH.
Addiction Research Foundation
ARF was founded in 1949. H. David Archibald, who had studied at the School of Alcohol Studies at Yale University, was hired by the Liquor Control Board of Ontario in 1949. His mandate was to determine the scope of alcoholism in Ontario. He was named executive director when ARF opened and remained in that post until 1976. Focusing initially on outpatient treatment, their first facility was Brookside Hospital in 1951, expanding to branch offices and new locations in 1954, the same year they set up in-house research. In 1961, they expanded their mission to include drugs, Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Research Foundation. In 1971, they expanded to a clinical teaching hospital called the Clinical Research and Treatment Institute. In 1978 ARF opened the School for Addiction Studies and expanded their international role in policy rdevelopment and research. Following ongoing recession in the 1990s, ARF was folded in 1998 into CAMH.[3]
[edit] Donwood Institute
Beginning in 1967, it had 47 beds and a 4-month waiting list in the 1980s. Focusing on substance abuse, boasted a 65% recovery rate for general population and an 85% recovery rate for physicians.[4]
[edit] Queen Street Mental Health Centre
This facility stands on what was once called the Provincial Lunatic Asylum, which opened on January 26, 1850. The facility had a series of names including the Toronto Lunatic Asylum and 999 Queen Street West.[5]
Reforms were made after a series of deaths at the Queen Street Mental Health Centre and newspaper accounts of involuntary drug treatment, electroshock therapy and prison-like conditions.[6][7]
[edit] References
1.^ "Reasons for Selection, 2009 Canada's Top 100 Employers Competition". http://www.eluta.ca/top-employer-centre-for-addiction-and-mental-health.
2.^ Scrivener, Leslie (February 25, 2007). Breakout at the asylum. Toronto Star
3.^ Blocker JS, Fahey DM, Tyrrell IR. Alcohol and temperance in modern history: an international encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO 2003. ISBN 1576078337 pp. 3–4.
4.^ Shilliday, Greg (May 15, 1983). The Donwood Institute: resort of last resort. Can Med Assoc J. 1983 May 15; 128(10): 1220–1221.
5.^ Everett, Barbara (2000). A Fragile Revolution: Consumers and Psychiatric Survivors Confront the Power of the Mental Health System. Wilfrid Laurier University Press. ISBN 0889203423
6.^ Goar, Carol (June 13, 2008). Mental health progress and pain.Toronto Star
7.^ (January 1, 2002). No straitjacket required: a growing and vocal group of psychiatric survivors argues that diagnosing mental disorders is just a way to stifle social dissent ... This Magazine
External links
CAMH website
Among the focuses of the organization are the assessment and treatment of schizophrenia, mood & anxiety disorders, and personality disorders. There is also a focus on addictions to alcohol, drugs, and problem gambling at the former ARF site. CAMH also has a Law and Mental Health Programme (forensic psychiatry and forensic psychology) and is a major research centre.
CAMH is a teaching hospital with central facilities located in Toronto and 26 community locations throughout the province of Ontario. CAMH is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto and is a Pan American Health Organization and World Health Organization Collaborating Centre.
In October 2008, CAMH was named one of "Canada's Top 100 Employers" by Mediacorp Canada Inc., and was featured in Maclean's newsmagazine. Later that month, CAMH was also named one of Greater Toronto's Top Employers, which was announced by the Toronto Star newspaper.[1]
Contents [hide]
1 Facilities
1.1 Clarke Institute of Psychiatry
1.2 Addiction Research Foundation
1.3 Donwood Institute
1.4 Queen Street Mental Health Centre
2 References
3 External links
Facilities
CAMH was formed in 1998 as a result of the merger of the Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, the Addiction Research Foundation, the Donwood Institute and Queen Street Mental Health Centre.[2]
] Clarke Institute of Psychiatry
CAMH College Street siteThe hospital was founded in 1966 and named the Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, after Charles Kirk Clarke, a pioneer in mental health in Canada.
Much of their work focuses on forensic psychology and research designed to shape public policy.[citation needed]
The former Clarke Institute building is now referred to as the College St. site of CAMH.
Addiction Research Foundation
ARF was founded in 1949. H. David Archibald, who had studied at the School of Alcohol Studies at Yale University, was hired by the Liquor Control Board of Ontario in 1949. His mandate was to determine the scope of alcoholism in Ontario. He was named executive director when ARF opened and remained in that post until 1976. Focusing initially on outpatient treatment, their first facility was Brookside Hospital in 1951, expanding to branch offices and new locations in 1954, the same year they set up in-house research. In 1961, they expanded their mission to include drugs, Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Research Foundation. In 1971, they expanded to a clinical teaching hospital called the Clinical Research and Treatment Institute. In 1978 ARF opened the School for Addiction Studies and expanded their international role in policy rdevelopment and research. Following ongoing recession in the 1990s, ARF was folded in 1998 into CAMH.[3]
[edit] Donwood Institute
Beginning in 1967, it had 47 beds and a 4-month waiting list in the 1980s. Focusing on substance abuse, boasted a 65% recovery rate for general population and an 85% recovery rate for physicians.[4]
[edit] Queen Street Mental Health Centre
This facility stands on what was once called the Provincial Lunatic Asylum, which opened on January 26, 1850. The facility had a series of names including the Toronto Lunatic Asylum and 999 Queen Street West.[5]
Reforms were made after a series of deaths at the Queen Street Mental Health Centre and newspaper accounts of involuntary drug treatment, electroshock therapy and prison-like conditions.[6][7]
[edit] References
1.^ "Reasons for Selection, 2009 Canada's Top 100 Employers Competition". http://www.eluta.ca/top-employer-centre-for-addiction-and-mental-health.
2.^ Scrivener, Leslie (February 25, 2007). Breakout at the asylum. Toronto Star
3.^ Blocker JS, Fahey DM, Tyrrell IR. Alcohol and temperance in modern history: an international encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO 2003. ISBN 1576078337 pp. 3–4.
4.^ Shilliday, Greg (May 15, 1983). The Donwood Institute: resort of last resort. Can Med Assoc J. 1983 May 15; 128(10): 1220–1221.
5.^ Everett, Barbara (2000). A Fragile Revolution: Consumers and Psychiatric Survivors Confront the Power of the Mental Health System. Wilfrid Laurier University Press. ISBN 0889203423
6.^ Goar, Carol (June 13, 2008). Mental health progress and pain.Toronto Star
7.^ (January 1, 2002). No straitjacket required: a growing and vocal group of psychiatric survivors argues that diagnosing mental disorders is just a way to stifle social dissent ... This Magazine
External links
CAMH website
Monday, October 11, 2010
Thanksgiving (Canada)
Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day (Canadian French: Jour de l'Action de grâce), occurring on the second Monday in October (since 1959), is an annual Canadian holiday to give thanks at the close of the harvest season. Although the original act of Parliament references God and the holiday is celebrated in churches, the holiday is also celebrated in a secular manner.
On January 31, 1957, the Canadian Parliament proclaimed:
“ A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed … to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October. ”
Canadian Thanksgiving coincides with Columbus Day in the United States and the Dia de la Raza in most of Latin America.
Contents [hide]
1 Traditional celebration
2 History
3 References
4 External links
[edit] Traditional celebration
Thanksgiving is a statutory holiday in most jurisdictions of Canada, with the provinces of Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia being the exceptions. Where a company is regulated by the federal government (such as those in the telecommunications and banking sectors), it is recognized regardless of status provincially.[1][2][3][4][5]
As a liturgical festival, Thanksgiving corresponds to the English and continental-European Harvest festival, with churches decorated with cornucopias, pumpkins, corn, wheat sheaves, and other harvest bounty, English and European harvest hymns sung on the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend, and scriptural selections drawn from biblical stories relating to the Jewish harvest festival of Sukkot.[citation needed]
While the actual Thanksgiving holiday is on a Monday, Canadians might eat their Thanksgiving meal on any day of the three-day weekend, though Sunday and Monday are the most common. While Thanksgiving is usually celebrated with a large family meal, it is also often a time for weekend getaways. The Thanksgiving weekend, given that it invariably falls at the very end of the summer, is traditionally a perfect time to put away the patio furniture, close the cottage and pull the boat up, thus getting ready for the long cold winter.
Owing to Canada's proximity to the United States, American traditions such as parades and football have crossed the border and been adapted into Canadian traditions. The Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest Parade serves as the nation's only Thanksgiving Day parade and, as a result, gets significant national attention, being broadcast nationwide on CTV and A. Canada's top professional football league, the Canadian Football League, holds a nationally televised doubleheader known as the "Thanksgiving Day Classic." It is one of two weeks in which the league plays on Monday afternoons, the other being the Labour Day Classic. Unlike the Labour Day games, the teams that play on the Thanksgiving Day Classic rotate each year.
Various First Nations in Canada had long-standing traditions celebrating the harvest and giving thanks for a successful bounty of crops. Canada's First Nations and Native Americans throughout the Americas, including the Pueblo, Cherokee, Cree and many others organized harvest festivals, ceremonial dances, and other celebrations of thanks for centuries before the arrival of Europeans in North America.[6]
Canadian troops attend a Thanksgiving service in the bombed-out Cambrai Cathedral, in France in October 1918The history of Thanksgiving in Canada goes back to an explorer, Martin Frobisher, who had been trying to find a northern passage to the Pacific Ocean.[7] Frobisher's Thanksgiving was not for harvest but homecoming. He had safely returned from a search for the Northwest Passage, avoiding the later fate of Henry Hudson and Sir John Franklin. In the year 1578, he held a formal ceremony in Newfoundland to give thanks for surviving the long journey. The feast was one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations by Europeans in North America. Frobisher was later knighted and had an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean in northern Canada named after him — Frobisher Bay.
At the same time, French settlers, having crossed the ocean and arrived in Canada with explorer Samuel de Champlain, in 1604 onwards also held huge feasts of thanks. They even formed 'The Order of Good Cheer' and gladly shared their food with their First Nations neighbours.
After the Seven Years' War ended in 1763 handing over of New France to the British, the citizens of Halifax held a special day of Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving days were observed beginning in 1799 but did not occur every year. After the American Revolution, American refugees who remained loyal to Great Britain moved from the newly independent United States and came to Canada. They brought the customs and practices of the American Thanksgiving to Canada. The first Thanksgiving Day after Canadian Confederation was observed as a civic holiday on April 5, 1872 to celebrate the recovery of the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) from a serious illness.
Starting in 1879 Thanksgiving Day was observed every year, but the date was proclaimed annually and changed year to year.[citation needed] The theme of the Thanksgiving holiday also changed each year to reflect an important event to be thankful for. In its early years it was for an abundant harvest and occasionally for a special anniversary.
After World War I, both Armistice Day and Thanksgiving were celebrated on the Monday of the week in which November 11 occurred.[citation needed] Ten years later, in 1931, the two days became separate holidays, and Armistice Day was renamed Remembrance Day.
References
1.^ "Paid public holidays". WorkRights.ca. http://www.workrights.ca/content.php?sec=9.
2.^ "Thanksgiving - is it a Statutory Holiday?". Government of Nova Scotia. http://www.gov.ns.ca/lwd/employmentrights/thanksgiving.asp. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
3.^ "Statutes, Chapter E-6.2" (PDF). Government of Prince Edward Island. http://www.gov.pe.ca/law/statutes/pdf/e-06_2.pdf. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
4.^ "RSNL1990 Chapter L-2 - Labour Standards Act". Assembly of Newfoundland. http://assembly.nl.ca/Legislation/sr/statutes/l02.htm#14_. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
5.^ "Statutory Holidays" (PDF). Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, Canada. http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/lp/spila/clli/eslc/stat_hol.pdf.
6.^ "The History of Thanksgiving - First Thanksgiving". History.com. http://www.history.com/minisite.do?content_type=Minisite_Generic&content_type_id=872&display_order=1&mini_id=1083.
7.^ "Canada's first Thanksgiving: Frobisher set stage for our celebrations in different spirit than U.S.". canada.com. http://www.canada.com/holidays/thanksgiving2005/story.html?id=74257801-d907-46e0-9bbd-c386515c6fe5.
On January 31, 1957, the Canadian Parliament proclaimed:
“ A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed … to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October. ”
Canadian Thanksgiving coincides with Columbus Day in the United States and the Dia de la Raza in most of Latin America.
Contents [hide]
1 Traditional celebration
2 History
3 References
4 External links
[edit] Traditional celebration
Thanksgiving is a statutory holiday in most jurisdictions of Canada, with the provinces of Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia being the exceptions. Where a company is regulated by the federal government (such as those in the telecommunications and banking sectors), it is recognized regardless of status provincially.[1][2][3][4][5]
As a liturgical festival, Thanksgiving corresponds to the English and continental-European Harvest festival, with churches decorated with cornucopias, pumpkins, corn, wheat sheaves, and other harvest bounty, English and European harvest hymns sung on the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend, and scriptural selections drawn from biblical stories relating to the Jewish harvest festival of Sukkot.[citation needed]
While the actual Thanksgiving holiday is on a Monday, Canadians might eat their Thanksgiving meal on any day of the three-day weekend, though Sunday and Monday are the most common. While Thanksgiving is usually celebrated with a large family meal, it is also often a time for weekend getaways. The Thanksgiving weekend, given that it invariably falls at the very end of the summer, is traditionally a perfect time to put away the patio furniture, close the cottage and pull the boat up, thus getting ready for the long cold winter.
Owing to Canada's proximity to the United States, American traditions such as parades and football have crossed the border and been adapted into Canadian traditions. The Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest Parade serves as the nation's only Thanksgiving Day parade and, as a result, gets significant national attention, being broadcast nationwide on CTV and A. Canada's top professional football league, the Canadian Football League, holds a nationally televised doubleheader known as the "Thanksgiving Day Classic." It is one of two weeks in which the league plays on Monday afternoons, the other being the Labour Day Classic. Unlike the Labour Day games, the teams that play on the Thanksgiving Day Classic rotate each year.
Various First Nations in Canada had long-standing traditions celebrating the harvest and giving thanks for a successful bounty of crops. Canada's First Nations and Native Americans throughout the Americas, including the Pueblo, Cherokee, Cree and many others organized harvest festivals, ceremonial dances, and other celebrations of thanks for centuries before the arrival of Europeans in North America.[6]
Canadian troops attend a Thanksgiving service in the bombed-out Cambrai Cathedral, in France in October 1918The history of Thanksgiving in Canada goes back to an explorer, Martin Frobisher, who had been trying to find a northern passage to the Pacific Ocean.[7] Frobisher's Thanksgiving was not for harvest but homecoming. He had safely returned from a search for the Northwest Passage, avoiding the later fate of Henry Hudson and Sir John Franklin. In the year 1578, he held a formal ceremony in Newfoundland to give thanks for surviving the long journey. The feast was one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations by Europeans in North America. Frobisher was later knighted and had an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean in northern Canada named after him — Frobisher Bay.
At the same time, French settlers, having crossed the ocean and arrived in Canada with explorer Samuel de Champlain, in 1604 onwards also held huge feasts of thanks. They even formed 'The Order of Good Cheer' and gladly shared their food with their First Nations neighbours.
After the Seven Years' War ended in 1763 handing over of New France to the British, the citizens of Halifax held a special day of Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving days were observed beginning in 1799 but did not occur every year. After the American Revolution, American refugees who remained loyal to Great Britain moved from the newly independent United States and came to Canada. They brought the customs and practices of the American Thanksgiving to Canada. The first Thanksgiving Day after Canadian Confederation was observed as a civic holiday on April 5, 1872 to celebrate the recovery of the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) from a serious illness.
Starting in 1879 Thanksgiving Day was observed every year, but the date was proclaimed annually and changed year to year.[citation needed] The theme of the Thanksgiving holiday also changed each year to reflect an important event to be thankful for. In its early years it was for an abundant harvest and occasionally for a special anniversary.
After World War I, both Armistice Day and Thanksgiving were celebrated on the Monday of the week in which November 11 occurred.[citation needed] Ten years later, in 1931, the two days became separate holidays, and Armistice Day was renamed Remembrance Day.
References
1.^ "Paid public holidays". WorkRights.ca. http://www.workrights.ca/content.php?sec=9.
2.^ "Thanksgiving - is it a Statutory Holiday?". Government of Nova Scotia. http://www.gov.ns.ca/lwd/employmentrights/thanksgiving.asp. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
3.^ "Statutes, Chapter E-6.2" (PDF). Government of Prince Edward Island. http://www.gov.pe.ca/law/statutes/pdf/e-06_2.pdf. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
4.^ "RSNL1990 Chapter L-2 - Labour Standards Act". Assembly of Newfoundland. http://assembly.nl.ca/Legislation/sr/statutes/l02.htm#14_. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
5.^ "Statutory Holidays" (PDF). Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, Canada. http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/lp/spila/clli/eslc/stat_hol.pdf.
6.^ "The History of Thanksgiving - First Thanksgiving". History.com. http://www.history.com/minisite.do?content_type=Minisite_Generic&content_type_id=872&display_order=1&mini_id=1083.
7.^ "Canada's first Thanksgiving: Frobisher set stage for our celebrations in different spirit than U.S.". canada.com. http://www.canada.com/holidays/thanksgiving2005/story.html?id=74257801-d907-46e0-9bbd-c386515c6fe5.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Rob Ford On The Record.
On The Record.
Ford on Cyclists
Every year we have dozens of people who get hit by cars or trucks. My heart bleeds when someone gets killed, but it’s their own fault at the end of the day. – March 7, 2007
Ford on Asians
Those Oriental people work like dogs. I’m telling you, the Oriental people, they’re slowly taking over. – March 5, 2008
Ford on HIV/AIDS
If you are not doing needles and you are not gay, you wouldn’t get AIDS probably, that’s bottom line. These are the facts. – June 29, 2006
Ford on Immigration
The situation is out of control. There should be a refugee freeze in Toronto. At some point we have to shut the door…we are the laughingstock of North America. – March 12, 2003
Ford on Conservation Signs
You’d have to be ret#rded if you can’t see frickin’ water in front of you. I don’t really know what we’re trying to accomplish by putting up signs and telling people, yeah, underneath this bridge there’s water. – May 20, 2009
Ford on Homeless Shelters
This is an insult to my constituents to even think about having a homeless shelter in their ward. – April 17, 2002
Rob Ford in Action
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgJ8oVsp6bo
Rob Ford on Homeless Shelters
Rob Ford on Cyclists
Ford on Cyclists
Every year we have dozens of people who get hit by cars or trucks. My heart bleeds when someone gets killed, but it’s their own fault at the end of the day. – March 7, 2007
Ford on Asians
Those Oriental people work like dogs. I’m telling you, the Oriental people, they’re slowly taking over. – March 5, 2008
Ford on HIV/AIDS
If you are not doing needles and you are not gay, you wouldn’t get AIDS probably, that’s bottom line. These are the facts. – June 29, 2006
Ford on Immigration
The situation is out of control. There should be a refugee freeze in Toronto. At some point we have to shut the door…we are the laughingstock of North America. – March 12, 2003
Ford on Conservation Signs
You’d have to be ret#rded if you can’t see frickin’ water in front of you. I don’t really know what we’re trying to accomplish by putting up signs and telling people, yeah, underneath this bridge there’s water. – May 20, 2009
Ford on Homeless Shelters
This is an insult to my constituents to even think about having a homeless shelter in their ward. – April 17, 2002
Rob Ford in Action
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgJ8oVsp6bo
Rob Ford on Homeless Shelters
Rob Ford on Cyclists
Saturday, October 9, 2010
The Supreme Court of Canada ruled Friday there is no place here for the American Miranda rule
Waiting to have your lawyer present before you speak with police doesn't work in Canada anymore.
The Supreme Court of Canada ruled Friday there is no place here for the American Miranda rule which gives a suspect the right to have a lawyer present during questioning.
The judges rejected that right in three separate rulings, but the justices were sharply divided.
In the main case, they ruled 5-4 that the charter of rights does not confer a right to have a lawyer present during interrogation.
Calgary lawyer Balfour Der says you still have the right to speak with a lawyer before you are questioned, but that lawyer does not have to be in the room when you are questioned by police.
He says you also have the right to diligently look for a lawyer but you can't just sit around with the excuse your lawyer is out of town or you can't find one.
Der adds, police can question you all they want, but you can choose not to answer.
The Supreme Court of Canada ruled Friday there is no place here for the American Miranda rule which gives a suspect the right to have a lawyer present during questioning.
The judges rejected that right in three separate rulings, but the justices were sharply divided.
In the main case, they ruled 5-4 that the charter of rights does not confer a right to have a lawyer present during interrogation.
Calgary lawyer Balfour Der says you still have the right to speak with a lawyer before you are questioned, but that lawyer does not have to be in the room when you are questioned by police.
He says you also have the right to diligently look for a lawyer but you can't just sit around with the excuse your lawyer is out of town or you can't find one.
Der adds, police can question you all they want, but you can choose not to answer.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Commissioner finds Veterans Affairs 'seriously mishandled' personal info.!
A Canadian Gulf War veteran is calling for a full public inquiry after the federal privacy commissioner found Veterans Affairs officials broke the law by sharing his sensitive personal and medical information.
An emotional Sean Bruyea said the officials in the department deliberately "crossed the line" in an attempt to discredit him as an outspoken opponent to the 2006 Veteran's Charter by including detailed information about his medical and psychological diagnosis and treatment in minister's briefing notes.
Bruyea, who has brought a $400,000 court action against the federal government, said he felt vindicated by the commissioner's findings but called on the federal government to apologize to all veterans.
"An apology would let us live in peace and start to rebuild the shattered trust between the government of Canada and the disabled soldiers," Bruyea said during an interview on CBC's Power & Politics with Evan Solomon.
He said the actions of department officials left him and his wife in a "humiliating state of powerlessness and vulnerability" and in "constant terror" of what the department, which controlled 100 per cent of his income at the time, would do next.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper placed the blame squarely on the department's bureaucrats, saying "the fact that some in the bureaucracy have been abusing these files and not following appropriate processes is completely unacceptable.
"We will ensure that rules are followed, that the recommendations of the privacy commission are implemented [and] that if this behaviour continues, there will be strong sanctions against it," the prime minister told reporters Thursday at an aerospace announcement in Winnipeg.
But Bruyea said the Prime Minister's Office "completely ignored" hundreds of pages of requests he sent about his case.
Privacy breaches 'alarming': commissioner
Bruyea's personal information ended up in March 2006 briefing notes of the former minister in charge, Greg Thompson, while his medical information, including diagnosis, symptoms and prognosis, were also found in a second ministerial briefing note dating back to 2005 under the former Liberal government and then-minister.
In her report, Stoddart said she found it "alarming" that Bruyea's information was shared "seemingly with no controls" among departmental officials "who had no legitimate need to see it."
Stoddart's office also found that documents containing Bruyea's medical information were sent to a veterans' hospital without his consent. While there were other briefing notes containing personal information, Stoddart found those were prepared for the "purpose of a ministerial response to particular issues raised by the complainant and therefore the content appeared appropriate."
The commissioner added she was also deeply concerned that officials from numerous branches of Veterans Affairs, including program policy, communications and media relations, were involved in discussing and contributing to the briefing notes and also had full access to them.
No apology from Blackburn
Veterans Affairs Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn says he will immediately start implementing the privacy commissioner's recommendations and 'correct this situation.' (CBC)Stoddart recommended the department immediately revise its protocols for handling personal information to ensure it is shared only on a need-to-know basis, and provide training to employees about appropriate personal information-handling practices.
Veterans Affairs Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn, who took over the portfolio eight months ago after Thompson left politics, says he's now looking at increasing penalties for bureaucrats who break the rules.
Blackburn called what happened in Bruyea's case "grave and unacceptable" and said the department is immediately taking steps to implement her recommendations.
"It's very embarrassing for our department to have that kind of documentation saying we were wrong," Blackburn said. "And I'm telling you, we will implement all those recommendations and it won't be the end of that. We'll go further."
But the minister stopped short of apologizing personally to Bruyea or saying if anyone in Veterans Affairs would be fired as a result of the commissioner's findings.
"This case is before the court," Blackburn told the CBC's Solomon. "It’s for this that I cannot speak on this specific case."
Bruyea said Blackburn spoke with him shortly before his CBC interview and told him he was legally bound not to apologize. He said he told the minister he understood he "has a frustrating job."
"I understand that the bureaucracy in Veterans Affairs doesn't like him," Bruyea said. "I told him that means he's doing a good job if he's actually disagreeing with them."
NDP veterans affairs critic Peter Stoffer said the commissioner's findings show the need for a full public inquiry into the matter.
"These members of the military serve their country, they deserve respect and if their information is being used like confetti through the department, then what these people need is a full inquiry to ascertain exactly who, what, when, where and why," he told CBC News. "Why would they do this?"
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/politics/story/2010/10/07/veteran-privacy-breach.html#socialcomments#ixzz11k4agTCA
An emotional Sean Bruyea said the officials in the department deliberately "crossed the line" in an attempt to discredit him as an outspoken opponent to the 2006 Veteran's Charter by including detailed information about his medical and psychological diagnosis and treatment in minister's briefing notes.
Bruyea, who has brought a $400,000 court action against the federal government, said he felt vindicated by the commissioner's findings but called on the federal government to apologize to all veterans.
"An apology would let us live in peace and start to rebuild the shattered trust between the government of Canada and the disabled soldiers," Bruyea said during an interview on CBC's Power & Politics with Evan Solomon.
He said the actions of department officials left him and his wife in a "humiliating state of powerlessness and vulnerability" and in "constant terror" of what the department, which controlled 100 per cent of his income at the time, would do next.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper placed the blame squarely on the department's bureaucrats, saying "the fact that some in the bureaucracy have been abusing these files and not following appropriate processes is completely unacceptable.
"We will ensure that rules are followed, that the recommendations of the privacy commission are implemented [and] that if this behaviour continues, there will be strong sanctions against it," the prime minister told reporters Thursday at an aerospace announcement in Winnipeg.
But Bruyea said the Prime Minister's Office "completely ignored" hundreds of pages of requests he sent about his case.
Privacy breaches 'alarming': commissioner
Bruyea's personal information ended up in March 2006 briefing notes of the former minister in charge, Greg Thompson, while his medical information, including diagnosis, symptoms and prognosis, were also found in a second ministerial briefing note dating back to 2005 under the former Liberal government and then-minister.
In her report, Stoddart said she found it "alarming" that Bruyea's information was shared "seemingly with no controls" among departmental officials "who had no legitimate need to see it."
Stoddart's office also found that documents containing Bruyea's medical information were sent to a veterans' hospital without his consent. While there were other briefing notes containing personal information, Stoddart found those were prepared for the "purpose of a ministerial response to particular issues raised by the complainant and therefore the content appeared appropriate."
The commissioner added she was also deeply concerned that officials from numerous branches of Veterans Affairs, including program policy, communications and media relations, were involved in discussing and contributing to the briefing notes and also had full access to them.
No apology from Blackburn
Veterans Affairs Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn says he will immediately start implementing the privacy commissioner's recommendations and 'correct this situation.' (CBC)Stoddart recommended the department immediately revise its protocols for handling personal information to ensure it is shared only on a need-to-know basis, and provide training to employees about appropriate personal information-handling practices.
Veterans Affairs Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn, who took over the portfolio eight months ago after Thompson left politics, says he's now looking at increasing penalties for bureaucrats who break the rules.
Blackburn called what happened in Bruyea's case "grave and unacceptable" and said the department is immediately taking steps to implement her recommendations.
"It's very embarrassing for our department to have that kind of documentation saying we were wrong," Blackburn said. "And I'm telling you, we will implement all those recommendations and it won't be the end of that. We'll go further."
But the minister stopped short of apologizing personally to Bruyea or saying if anyone in Veterans Affairs would be fired as a result of the commissioner's findings.
"This case is before the court," Blackburn told the CBC's Solomon. "It’s for this that I cannot speak on this specific case."
Bruyea said Blackburn spoke with him shortly before his CBC interview and told him he was legally bound not to apologize. He said he told the minister he understood he "has a frustrating job."
"I understand that the bureaucracy in Veterans Affairs doesn't like him," Bruyea said. "I told him that means he's doing a good job if he's actually disagreeing with them."
NDP veterans affairs critic Peter Stoffer said the commissioner's findings show the need for a full public inquiry into the matter.
"These members of the military serve their country, they deserve respect and if their information is being used like confetti through the department, then what these people need is a full inquiry to ascertain exactly who, what, when, where and why," he told CBC News. "Why would they do this?"
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/politics/story/2010/10/07/veteran-privacy-breach.html#socialcomments#ixzz11k4agTCA
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Open letter to PMO Stephen Harper regarding mistreatment of our Veterans by himself, the Conservative Party and the Government of Canada
This is the email I sent to the Prime Mininster in August of 2010 explaining my displeasure about how he has handled the Veteran Affairs file. Since that email, there has been an increase in funding for veterns medical needs and long term benefits. That is a good start but not enough. I think he may still lose nearly all the veterans as a political base. At the end of this message I will be placing my email address in case anybody wants to email me. A note to spammers: the email address I will be leaving was specifically started for communication with different groups that may result in a lot of spam being thrown at the account.
pm@pm.gc.ca
To The Right Honourable Prime Minister Harper,
The Privy Council and Veteran's Affairs Minister
I am contacting you regarding the recent termination of the Veteran's Affairs Ombudsman. You appointed the guy. In the job description of this particular gentleman, he is to be independent and at arms length from the Government of Canada as well as the PMO. However, since you don't like what he says, you then decide not to renew his three year term. One is left with the distinct impression that this government, in particular the office of the PMO, cannot handle criticism of any type and will throw anyone who doesn't agree with his thinking under the bus, as you have done to other heads of independent bodies.
For a political party and government that loves to wrap itself in the flag and use the military as a photo op, firing the Veterans advocate is a good way to shoot yourself in the foot and quite possibly commit political suicide. Why do something this stupid. You know there will be a fresh supply of veterans due to the mission if Afghanistan and they will need help. When they don't get the services and benefits they deserve, that will be an outrage. Such an insult is going to make the census controversy look like a picnic.
In closing Mr. Harper, do you enjoy insulting people? If you do let me congratulate you on doing a bang-up job this summer. It appears your new job description is Prime Minister of insults and snafu's. You should schedule a trip to the front and walk the line. At the moment, the Governor General has been to Afghanistan meeting with the troops more than you have. You could have use that month-and-a-half media blackout to go visit the troops. Obviously you didn't because you don't have a suntan. Start respecting people and the opposition more Mr. Harper because if you appear too weak or stubborn you can be replaced sir.
I can be reached at: msdogfood@hotmail.com
pm@pm.gc.ca
To The Right Honourable Prime Minister Harper,
The Privy Council and Veteran's Affairs Minister
I am contacting you regarding the recent termination of the Veteran's Affairs Ombudsman. You appointed the guy. In the job description of this particular gentleman, he is to be independent and at arms length from the Government of Canada as well as the PMO. However, since you don't like what he says, you then decide not to renew his three year term. One is left with the distinct impression that this government, in particular the office of the PMO, cannot handle criticism of any type and will throw anyone who doesn't agree with his thinking under the bus, as you have done to other heads of independent bodies.
For a political party and government that loves to wrap itself in the flag and use the military as a photo op, firing the Veterans advocate is a good way to shoot yourself in the foot and quite possibly commit political suicide. Why do something this stupid. You know there will be a fresh supply of veterans due to the mission if Afghanistan and they will need help. When they don't get the services and benefits they deserve, that will be an outrage. Such an insult is going to make the census controversy look like a picnic.
In closing Mr. Harper, do you enjoy insulting people? If you do let me congratulate you on doing a bang-up job this summer. It appears your new job description is Prime Minister of insults and snafu's. You should schedule a trip to the front and walk the line. At the moment, the Governor General has been to Afghanistan meeting with the troops more than you have. You could have use that month-and-a-half media blackout to go visit the troops. Obviously you didn't because you don't have a suntan. Start respecting people and the opposition more Mr. Harper because if you appear too weak or stubborn you can be replaced sir.
I can be reached at: msdogfood@hotmail.com
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