Inuit organizations stated that they intend to fight “tendencies of linguicide” and to promote linguistic diversity in the face of development pressures at the 12th session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York this week.
According to Nunatsiaq Online, the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) stated that the Inuit language is rapidly disappearing in North America. The ICC represents Inuit across the Arctic Circle and has embarked on an “Arctic Indigenous Language Project”.
The ICC stated also that Arctic cultures must be a “focal point” in development decisions, particularly because culture and environment are inextricably linked. They stressed the importance of democratic decision-making and consent of local peoples in agreements with resource extraction companies, in ways that are both inclusive and preserving of culture.
A motion to ban Gay-Straight Alliance student clubs in Catholic schools, submitted by Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) Scarborough Trustee, Garry Tanuan, is set to be heard at the TCDSB’s monthly public meeting tonight (Catholic Education Centre, 80 Sheppard Ave. E., on Thursday, May 23 at 7 p.m.). The motion directly conflicts with provincial legislation under The Accepting Schools Act, which came into effect last June, and mandates that “[e]very board shall support pupils who want to establish and lead activities and organizations that promote a safe and inclusive learning environment, the acceptance of and respect for others and the creation of a positive school climate, including [. . .] organizations with the name gay-straight alliance.” Briefly put, the Act is intended to counteract the deeply harmful effects of harassment and discrimination experienced by students as bullying within schools. Read the rest of this entry »
The B.C. Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) won a constitutional challenge at the B.C. Court of Appeal enabling them to freely express their political views through buttons and posters.
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According to CBC News, a Nova Scotian Provincial Court dismissed a Charter challenge that Nova Scotian regulations, which require tobacco products to be concealed in stores, violate freedom of expression. Bob Gee of Mader’s Tobacco was reportedly found guilty of openly violating these regulations, claiming that he wages a battle for democratic rights. Read the rest of this entry »
According to the Canadian Press, the NunatuKavut Community Council, which represents the Inuit-Metis of southern Labrador, has launched a complaint with the Commission for Public Complaints, alleging that the RCMP discriminated against them when arresting eight people during the April 5th protest against the Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project. Read the rest of this entry »
On May 13th, 2013, CBC News reported that a review panel has been struck to determine whether the Halifax Regional School Board adequately handled the events culminating in the death of 17-year old Rehtaeh Parsons. Miss Parsons attempted suicide and was taken off life support in early April 2013, after enduring cyber-bullying that followed the online distribution of her alleged sexual assault by four boys in Halifax in 2011. The panel will explore what the Board knew of the bullying and whether it took adequate measures, including offering support services, to stem its escalation. Read the rest of this entry »
On May 9, the government of Nunavut passed Bill 67 which amends the Integrity Act. Under s36 of the (unamended) Act, any person could ask for a review of a MLA, accompanied by an affidavit detailing the grounds for the person’s belief that a contravention had occurred. Bill 67, which passed third reading the same day it was introduced, excludes many civil servants from initiating a review directly with the Integrity Commissioner. Among those excluded are deputy ministers, assistant and associate deputy ministers, heads of public agencies, the clerk and staff of the legislative assembly (except the Integrity Commissioner’s office), and support and advisory staff to Cabinet. Instead, anyone falling into this class of persons must take a request for review to the appropriate Minister or the Premier, who will determine whether a formal request should be made to the Integrity Commissioner. Read the rest of this entry »
Nova Scotia announced today that it will seek to criminalize “circulating an intimate image for a malicious or sexual purpose.”
Nova Scotia Justice Minister Ross Landry plans to meet with his federal counterpart in order to advocate for changes to the Criminal Code of Canada.
The proposed offence would criminalize “e-mailing, texting or posting an intimate picture online without consent.”
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A Russian journalist named Mr G. Borodyanskiy working for a Russian news publication named Novaya Gazeta was successfully sued by a politician who found one of Mr. Borodyanskiy’s articles libelous. The article centered on questionable bank loans that were made to prominent business interests in the region. The article further suggested that the local governor had a “benevolent” attitude in this instance of fraudulent activity. The governor sued. Read the rest of this entry »
Tweeting from trials will soon be banned in Quebec, the Montreal Gazette reports.
The Quebec judiciary has imposed new directives applying to journalists, lawyers and the public which prohibit email, tweets and texts from inside courtrooms. They will still be allowed to use electronic devices to take notes. The new rules come into effect on April 15.
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