Category Archives: Justice
Alberta government proposing education for judges on sexual assault law
EDMONTON — The Alberta government has introduced a bill that would require new provincial court judges to be trained in sexual assault law and to recognize stereotypes that lead to prejudice and social bias against victims. All applicants would have to...
Long-awaited victims’ rights for military coming into effect in June
OTTAWA — The Canadian Armed Forces says long-awaited rights for the victims of military-related crimes will come into effect in June, though other reforms to fix shortcomings in Canada’s court-martial system appear to be a long way off. Parliament appr...
B.C.’s UN Indigenous rights plan commits to changing history through action
VICTORIA — British Columbia introduced an Indigenous reconciliation plan Wednesday that sets goals toward implementing its law on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. During a ceremony at the legislature before the bill ...
RCMP’s bias-free policing policy inadequate, Mountie watchdog finds
OTTAWA — The civilian watchdog agency that oversees the RCMP has found that the Mounties' bias-free policing policy is inadequate and unclear. The Civilian Review and Complaints Commission's report released Wednesday also said the RCMP's national headq...
Witnesses sue over police response to Quebec’s 2012 election-night shooting
MONTREAL — A technician who witnessed Quebec's fatal election-night shooting 10 years ago testified Wednesday as part of a lawsuit alleging that Montreal police and Quebec provincial police failed to properly secure the event. Jonathan Dubé told the co...
Parliamentary budget officer says one minimum sentence costs $98 million per year
OTTAWA — A study by the parliamentary budget officer has found that one particular mandatory minimum sentence costs a total of $98 million each year. Budget officer Yves Giroux's report focused on costs related to the three-year minimum sentence for po...
Ontario removing fee for police record checks for some volunteers
TORONTO — Some Ontario volunteers will soon be able to get police record checks for free. Removing the fee for criminal record checks and criminal record and judicial matters checks for volunteers was part of legislation the government passed late last...
Mass shooting inquiry: New details about second day of killing rampage revealed
HALIFAX — The morning after a gunman murdered 13 people in northern Nova Scotia, the RCMP were unaware he had resumed his killing until frantic 911 calls started coming in from two locations shortly after 9:30 a.m. By that time, four
Canadian pot producers watch closely as Democrats aim to rewrite U.S. cannabis laws
WASHINGTON — More than three years after legal cannabis arrived in North America on a national scale, Congress is taking another stab at following Canada's lead by ending long-standing federal prohibitions on marijuana in the United States. A meeting W...
B.C. manages cybersecurity risks posed by staff working from home: audit
VICTORIA — British Columbia's auditor general says the government has effective tools in place to manage cybersecurity risks that could arise from an increase in public service employees working from home during the pandemic. Michael Pickup says an au...