'Pride is more than just like a party': Protest to replace weekend parade in Thunder Bay, Ont.

Heather Kitching - 

© Submitted by Lak Williams  Pride is a Protest co-organizer Lak Williams said the original Pride was a demonstration against police brutality, and questioned why Pride organizers must pay police for their services during the parade.

In June 1969, police raided New York City's Stonewall Inn, roughing up and arresting its 2SLGBT patrons.

More than 50 years later, the Pride celebrations held across North America, often on or close to the anniversary of the event, bear little resemblance to that uprising against police repression that served as a catalyst for the gay rights movement.

As the two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community has gained acceptance from the dominant culture and even recognition as a lucrative consumer group, Pride events have at times become a source of tension in the community.

Some embrace them as a colourful cultural celebration of liberties already won; others regret seeing Pride being used by corporations and in marketing campaigns while the continued struggles of more marginalized members of the community are moved to the sidelines.

Those perspectives will be juxtaposed Saturday in Thunder Bay, Ont., beginning with a protest march called Pride is a Protest — which has the support of the city's established Pride organizer, Thunder Pride.

Later in the day, Thunder Pride and the Rainbow Collective will hold two events more conventionally associated with Pride: an afternoon street festival and nighttime drag show.
'Taking matters into our own hands'

Protest co-organizers Lak Williams and Sarah DiBiagio said they organized the march after learning that Thunder Pride didn't have the resources to hold a formal Pride parade this year.

"A lot of our community members, especially people who have finally come out of the closet this year, they were so excited to be a part of the Pride parade but left disappointed or beyond disappointed because some of our questions weren't even able to be answered," Williams said.

"We're taking matters into our own hands and ensuring that Pride is more than just like a party. Everybody knows it started as a protest."

Some people had expressed concerns to the duo about losing out on the opportunity to march proudly through the streets, DiBiagio said, while others were frustrated with corporate-sponsored parades.

"A lot of the events that are being held this year for Pride Month do revolve around partying, alcohol consumption and pay-to-plays," she added.

"The average cost of one of the drag shows is around $30. So that's also a way that Pride has been limited this year for a lot of people who needed access to it."

This year is a particularly important one to return politics to Pride, DiBiagio said, as the rights of two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans/non-binary people have come under attack, particularly in the United States.

As well, Ontario Provincial Police are investigating after Pride decorations and flags in several communities were torn up, cut and shredded.

"It's very troublesome to see how backwards it's going," said Scotia Kauppi, the new executive secretary and treasurer of Thunder Pride.

Kauppi said she takes seriously the concerns raised to activists like Williams and DiBiaigio, and the organization has tried to be transparent about the reasons for not holding the Pride parade this year.

"Our board was down to nothing, and with COVID-19, our funding was not there," she said. "We didn't have the resources or volunteers to even start parade planning. Parade planning has to start in, like, January."

Thunder Pride put out notices earlier in the year looking for new directors; it is now one short of a full complement, though the organization currently has no Indigenous board members, Kauppi said, something she is trying to rectify.

The struggle to attract board members has multiple sources, she said.

"With COVID, there was such a lull where we couldn't really do anything anyway," Kauppi said. "But there was also drama that happened before.… It did obviously leave a bad taste in people's mouths about our board and about our association."

In 2020, the organization announced it had suspended a member for racism and that two board members were also being suspended.
Events spread out over a month

Later that summer, then board chair Jason Veltri resigned following public criticism of his handling of an initiative to bring rainbow crosswalks to the city.

Thunder Pride worked with Veltri's new organization, Rainbow Collective, on some of this year's Pride events.

"I'm a very olive branch type of person," Kauppi said.

The organization spread this year's Pride events out over an entire month to prevent excessive spread of COVID-19 and provide more opportunities for people from out of town to catch an event in the city, Kauppi said.

The parade, however, was simply too expensive to organize in the time available, she said, saying the cost of hiring police to close the streets and protect protesters would amount to thousands of dollars.

Williams was critical of the idea the 2SLGBT community should fundraise to cover policing costs.

"Pride started as a protest against police brutality," they said. "So if police really wanted to show their allyship to the queer community, we shouldn't have to be paying them to, you know, monitor the streets to ensure our safety."

Kauppi said the new board members share the protest organizers' desire to see politics return to Pride, saying many of them too are tired of "the corporate, very entertainment side of Pride."

"I think historically, Thunder Pride was always very … surface-level events: Pride parade, flag raisings and maybe, like, a little bit of activism but not too much," she said.

"I'm finding that the main group … still has lots of fight in us. And I think activism is going to become a bigger role for us now."

She said she hopes people will give the new board a chance, and welcomes the work of Williams and DiBiagio in organizing the protest.

"I believe Saturday is going to be a good mix of everything we need for Pride," she said. "It has the activism. It has the community and it has the fun."

The Pride is a Protest march begins Saturday at 11 a.m. ET at Waverly Park, while the street festival takes place from noon to 6 p.m. in the city's waterfront district.

RED TORY - SHE IS RUNNING
Michelle Rempel Garner exits Patrick Brown campaign to consider UCP leadership run


OTTAWA — Michelle Rempel Garner, a longtime Conservative MP from Calgary, says she's stepping back from the federal Conservative leadership race to consider running for Jason Kenney's job.


Michelle Rempel Garner to consider UCP leadership run

Rempel Garner was serving as co-chair on Patrick Brown's leadership campaign when Kenney stunned many last month by announcing he was resigning as premier of Alberta and leader of the United Conservative Party after narrowly surviving a leadership review.

Rempel Garner's name soon started to circulate as a potential successor to Kenney.

She confirmed on Twitter she has been encouraged to run and is giving "serious consideration" to mounting a UCP leadership bid.

Rempel Garner says she will step back from the federal Conservative leadership race to focus her attention on a potential leadership run.

"I will make my decision based on the conversations I have with the people I represent — Albertans."

In his own statement on Twitter, Brown thanked Rempel Garner for contributing to his campaign and wished her well in her deliberations.

Announcing that Rempel Garner, who was first elected in 2011, would serve as one of his national campaign co-chairs was seen by some to be a key get for Brown, whose political roots lie in Ontario.

Her departure follows a decision by two MPs to forgo their endorsement of Brown and instead back his main rival, longtime Ottawa-area MP Pierre Poilievre.

At the time, a spokesman for Brown's campaign brushed off the decision by Ontario MPs Kyle Seeback and Dan Muys to switch sides, saying they only represent two votes.

A spokesman has not yet responded to a question of whether Brown will name a replacement to the role Rempel Garner filled as a campaign co-chair.

Almost since the race began, Poilievre and Brown, as well as their wider teams, have taken to attacking one another back and forth, which continued Thursday with Poilievre tweeting Brown's leadership bid was in "free fall."

Recently, the party opened an investigation into Brown's campaign based on a complaint lodged by Tim Uppal, a Conservative MP from Edmonton who is helping chair Poilievre's campaign.

In a letter sent last week to Ian Brodie, chair of the party's leadership election organizing committee, Uppal alleges that Poilievre's campaign has been made aware of "concerning membership sales practices" by Brown.

Uppal details how the Poilievre campaign "received repeated reports" that organizers working for Brown "were arranging to reimburse the membership fees paid by individuals who agreed to join the party using the Brown campaign's web portal."

In a statement, party executive director Wayne Benson confirmed that it had received the complaint from Poilievre's campaign about Brown and is investigating the allegations.

He added the party wouldn't say more until the investigation was over.

Brown's campaign has dismissed the allegations, with spokesman Chisholm Pothier saying it looked forward to "debunking their delusions."

When it comes to Rempel Garner's departure, Pothier said the campaign still enjoys her support and that she left to fulfil other obligations.

He added her leaving doesn't change anything about the campaign's organization.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 16, 2022.

Stephanie Taylor, The Canadian Press

AS A RED TORY RUNNING FEDERALLY SHE WAS ENDORSED LAST ELECTION BY THE FORMER CULTURE MINISTER IN THE NDP 

PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

LET HIM IN

Edmonton MLA says he's been cleared of hacking charges; seeks return to NDP caucus

EDMONTON — An Alberta legislature member investigated by the RCMP after he admitted to hacking into a government health website says he has been cleared of criminal charges.



Thomas Dang says in a statement he will instead have to pay a yet-to-be-determined fine for contravening the Health Information Act.

Dang was removed from the NDP caucus when charges were laid in December 2021.

He has been sitting in the house as an Independent but says he wants to return to caucus.

NDP Leader Rachel Notley, when asked in Calgary, said she was not aware of the development but would get more information and discuss it with the caucus and party.

She had said Dang, who represents the constituency of Edmonton-South, would not be allowed to sit in caucus or run for the party in the next election while under police investigation.

“I am excited to put this matter behind me, and I am grateful to the RCMP and the Crown prosecutor for working quickly to achieve this resolution," Dang said in his statement Thursday.

“I’ve learned a lot from this experience and will absolutely do things differently in the future if similar concerns or issues are brought to me.

RCMP spokesman Fraser Logan said he could not confirm details about the case but that the investigation had been referred to prosecutors.

The Alberta Crown prosecution service declined to comment.

Dang is a second-term legislature member.

He was charged after he admitted to using his computer to follow up on a tip from a constituent about possible loopholes that were allowing access to people's private health information on the province’s COVID-19 vaccine website.

He later said that when he ran into roadblocks trying to breach the vaccination site, he used Premier Jason Kenney's birth date and vaccination dates — both publicly available — which allowed him to breach the site's privacy safeguards.

At that point, Dang said, he immediately stopped the search and told the NDP caucus, which in turn advised the government of the security breach. It was remedied soon after.

Dang said using Kenney's details was a reasonable decision to make under the circumstances, given the premier has a high profile and could be a target of hacking.

He rejected suggestions he was engaging in a form of identity theft.

The United Conservative Party caucus, in a statement, said, “Given the serious nature of this RCMP investigation and the resulting fine under the Health Information Act, MLA Dang should not be allowed to rejoin the Official Opposition caucus.

“Many questions still remain about Dang’s online activities, as well as Notley’s knowledge of them.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 16, 2022.

Dean Bennett, The Canadian Press

OFFICE POLITICS

AFN national chief under investigation over bullying, harassment allegations

Olivia Stefanovich - Yesterday 

The national chief of the country's most influential First Nations organization is under pressure to step aside as she faces an external investigation over bullying and harassment allegations from four of her staff members, CBC News has learned.


© Chris Young/The Canadian Press

Assembly of First Nations National Chief RoseAnne Archibald was the subject of a previous bullying and harassment investigation in her former role as Ontario regional chief.

The complaints against Assembly of First Nations National Chief RoseAnne Archibald were filed under the organization's whistleblower policy.

In a statement issued Thursday, the AFN confirmed it received a number of complaints last month against Archibald and determined the findings supported further inquiry by an external investigator.

In her own statement released Thursday, Archibald said she welcomes the investigation and called for a forensic audit and independent inquiry into the last eight years of AFN operations.

In her statement, Archibald claims she never had a human resources complaint launched against her prior to her work at AFN.

"This is the second time that I've endured a smear campaign as a result of my relentless pursuit of the truth," Archibald said.

"I hope people can see the toxic pattern at the AFN."

Archibald alleges the four staff members filed complaints against her after they tried to secure $1 million in contract payouts.

"The background deals, the large payouts to staff and other documented incidents of corruption and collusion has caused us to lose sight of our shared goal: to fight for the collective rights of more than 900,000 Indigenous Peoples living in more than 600 First Nations communities, cities and towns across Turtle Island," she wrote in her statement posted to social media.

Sources say problems began after Archibald took office

The whistleblower mechanism the staff used to file complaints against Archibald was created last year following a separate bullying and harassment investigation of her while she was Ontario regional chief.

The new complaints include objections to Archibald's alleged introduction of a Hawaiian cultural practice called ho'oponopono during weekly meetings. The complaints claim that the practice sees Archibald recite prayers for staff members' healing or in response to their errors, and say that she asks them to share their childhood traumas.

Multiple sources who spoke to CBC News said some staff members complained this practice served to re-traumatize them. The sources spoke on the condition they not be named because they fear reprisals.

Archibald's counsel Aaron Detlor told CBC News he's unaware of any Hawaiian cultural practices employed by the national chief, or of her asking people to reveal childhood traumas. He said he's aware Archibald believes strongly in Indigenous-based healing.

The investigation is being conducted by an outside firm hired by the AFN.

The four staff members who made the complaints are on paid leave. Archibald remains in her role as national chief.

Sources said the problems at the AFN office in Ottawa began shortly after Archibald took office last summer.

They describe the workplace as toxic and said staff dread coming to work each day.

The same sources, who have direct knowledge of the workings of the national chief's office, said staff claim they've been yelled at by the national chief and reduced to tears by her criticism of their work.

Archibald denies she sought higher salary

Three sources said Archibald still has not signed her employment contract and has demanded she be paid the same salary as the prime minister.

In a recording of a meeting held Wednesday with Ontario regional chiefs — reviewed by CBC News — Archibald is heard denying she requested a prime ministerial salary.

Detlor also said the allegation is "simply incorrect."

"It would quite frankly raise issues of, broader issues related to some of the underlying problems where breaches of confidentiality and an attempt to resolve matters through the press is … undermining the national chief's efforts to engage in a healing path forward," he said.

At the same meeting with Ontario chiefs, the sources said, Archibald asked for support to dissolve the AFN secretariat — the administrative and operational arm of the organization, which employs about 200 people.

Archibald is also facing pressure from some First Nations chiefs to step down.

McLeod Lake Indian Band Chief Harley Chingee, whose band is in British Columbia, drafted a resolution to be tabled at next month's AFN gathering of chiefs to force Archibald's ouster. It was seconded by Long Plain First Nation Chief Kyra Wilson, whose community is in Manitoba.

B.C. chief questions Archibald's election victory

Chingee said Archibald's 2021 election victory may not be legitimate under the organization's charter. The charter requires that a national chief be elected with 60 per cent of the vote.

Archibald was elected on 205 ballots, accounting for only 50 per cent of votes cast during the election, which was held virtually because of COVID-19 restrictions. Her opponent, Reginald Bellerose, dropped out after receiving 144 votes, or 35 per cent of the total.

Chingee said the AFN is currently adrift.

"Her administration is sort of messed up because if you have a leader that's not leading the troops in a good way, the people underneath it are also discombobulated," he said.

"That's a problem for morale and thinking forward and looking after the interests of the First Nations."

Chingee expressed concern about reports he said he's heard regarding how Archibald is treating people in her office.
'Her silence is deafening'

He also said Archibald is largely absent from the national stage and only deals with a select number of chiefs.

"Her silence is deafening," Chingee said. "I'm concerned to the degree that we're a leaderless bunch. Just bobbing in the ocean sort of, with no leader, no paddle.… We're going over the Niagara Falls."

Detlor said chiefs are entitled to their opinions.

"I believe the national chief's position is that she was legitimately elected and she stands legitimately as the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations," Detlor said.

In her statement, Archibald thanked Ontario chiefs for passing two resolutions on Thursday validating the election results and her calls for an oversight body for the AFN executive, which is composed of regional chiefs.

"In the coming days, more information will be revealed," Archibald said.

"What was done in darkness shall always find a way into the light."

A report dated May 3, 2021, by independent investigator Bryna Hatt into bullying and harassment complaints against Archibald when she was Ontario regional chief involved 10 complaints, but only seven of the complainants agreed to be interviewed.

It hit a dead end after the complainants refused to file formal claims because they said they feared workplace retribution. Archibald was not interviewed for the investigation.

The investigator reported that each of the seven complainants was credible and had genuine concerns about pursuing their complaints further.

Freedom movement' rallies planned to run in Ottawa all summer: organizer

OTTAWA — Events are set to take place in Ottawa in late June through Canada Day and the rest of the summer for what organizers say are to protest remaining COVID-19 pandemic-era restrictions.

© Provided by The Canadian Press

Andrew MacGillivray, steering committee member for Veterans for Freedom, said in an interview posted on YouTube that it will hold a three-day conference in Ottawa next week, from Wednesday to Friday.

Veterans for Freedom describes itself on its website as a group made up of Canadian veterans working to "restore fundamental freedoms for all Canadians" and "uphold Canadian laws."

The organization has partnered with other groups that oppose pandemic mandates, including those calling themselves Police on Guard and Canadian Frontline Nurses.

The “Freedom Convoy” protest, which occupied downtown streets for three weeks earlier this year, is still in recent memory for many Ottawa citizens.

The members of the Veterans for Freedom steering committee all have ties to the earlier protests, including one person who was among the convoy's spokespeople. Others appeared in YouTube videos supporting convoy demonstrators.

MacGillivray said the group’s aim is to have the federal government repeal remaining mandates, reinstate federal workers who lost their jobs related to mandates and pay those workers for lost wages.

He said his group plans to hold a meeting with up to 17 MPs on Wednesday, who are "mostly Conservative," and the next two days will be town hall events with key people in the "freedom movement."


On June 30, Veterans for Freedom is co-ordinating a route for James Topp and his supporters to walk through parts of Ottawa to the National War Memorial. The route has received a police escort, said MacGillivray.

Topp is a Canadian soldier who was charged by the Department of National Defence in May after publicly speaking out against federal vaccine requirements while in uniform.

He left Vancouver in February to walk to Ottawa in protest of pandemic mandates, according to the Canada Marches website.

In the interview on YouTube, MacGillivray shared plans for Canada Day celebrations, set to take place on the lawn in front of the Supreme Court of Canada, which will include a march to City Hall, and a dance party on Parliament Hill that evening.

Heritage Canada said this year's Canada Day celebrations will largely take place in LeBreton Flats Park in the city.

When asked about all the planned “freedom”-related events, Ottawa police said it would be sharing information Friday afternoon in partnership with Heritage Canada on its security approach to Canada Day.

MacGillivray said it will also set up a semi-permanent camp east of Ottawa called "Camp Eagle" and will be holding events all summer. The camp sits about 40 minutes outside the city on private property.

"Basically, we're going to stay there the entire summer. We're going to implement our strategy and our plan to lean on the government through education, information, et cetera."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 16, 2022.

---

This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.

Erika Ibrahim, The Canadian Press

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh  calls for investigation into hoax, arrest of Sikh men

Call for accountability, investigation echoes similar calls made by Sikh community leaders

CBC News · Posted: Jun 16, 2022

Police remove police tape after responding to an incident on Parliament Hill in Ottawa last Saturday. (Patrick Doyle/The Canadian Press)


NDP leader Jagmeet Singh wants an investigation launched immediately to find out who was behind an apparent hoax that resulted in two Sikh men being arrested and Parliament Hill placed on lockdown last weekend.

Police sources told CBC News they received a tip, which first came to the Canada Border Services Agency, indicating members of an extremist group were headed to a protest with explosives in tow.

After an investigation, the Ottawa Police Service said no public safety threat was identified, but Manveer Singh and Parminder Singh told The Canadian Press that police arrested and questioned them, then apologized and released them.

The two men were organizers of an event by Members of the United Front of Sikhs Canada to commemorate the 1984 Sikh massacre in India.

"Why was it that two Sikh men with no antecedence, no evidence of any threat to Canadians were treated with such severity?" Singh said Thursday.

"There's clearly something going on here that needs to be evaluated."

Conservative MP Tim Uppal, who in 2011 became the first Turban-wearing Sikh appointed to cabinet, also questioned where the information came from.

"It sets a dangerous precedent for the future," said Uppal. "If you start to believe everything, then the really important stuff is going to get missed, so I think it's something that should be looked into definitely."

Watch
NDP leader says Ottawa police were ‘irresponsible’ in arresting Sikh men based on bad tip 1 day ago  1:12

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh is calling for an investigation into the incident, in which two Sikh men attending a peaceful commemoration ceremony on Parliament Hill were arrested after police received a false tip.

Singh, whose calls for accountability echoed those made by some in Ottawa's Sikh community earlier this week, contrasted the police response to the convoy protests that took place in Ottawa for several weeks this past winter.

"This is something very serious. We want to understand why this happened, what steps were taken to get to that point, and why police reacted in that way," Singh said, adding police "overreacted in a very irresponsible way."

In a memo to the Ottawa Police Services Board, interim Ottawa police chief Steve Bell said officers acted in good faith and are aware of the impact of the investigation on the city and those arrested.

Police reaching out to community for feedback

The memo said police have reached out to the leadership of Ottawa's Sikh community and will meet with them later this week to discuss the police response.

The memo said once the RCMP investigation is complete, Ottawa police will fully review the incident and the feedback from the community to look at how police can improve responses to similar incidents.

Inderjit Singh Sambi of the Ottawa Sikh Society says the incident was painful to hear and read about, and he worries "the Sikh image is going to be all maligned."

"There's clearly a horrible standard, a double standard," he said.

Sambi said Ottawa police have reached out to him about their response to the incident.

With files from Krystalle Ramlakhan and Raffy Boudjikanian

Some in Sikh community want full investigation into arrests and 'terrorism hoax'

Police silent after accusations of wrongful arrests during Parliament lockdown

Parliament Hill evacuation may have been prompted by hoax or bad tip, sources say

Ottawa police reach out to Sikh community, but not men arrested due to false tip

Ottawa police will meet with leaders of the city’s Sikh community later this week to get feedback on officers’ handling of a false bomb tip against two rally organizers, but police have not reached out to the men who were arrested as a result of the accusation.



Parminder Singh, who lives in Pierrefonds, Que., said on Wednesday the police plan to meet with Sikh leaders in Ottawa without contacting him is “disturbing.”

"Since I've been released from Ottawa police custody, I haven't got any phone call or email from Ottawa police. Seeing that news is really disturbing for me because I am the victim of the hoax, the bogus complaint against me and I am not even aware about this meeting," he said.

Manveer Singh also said he has not received any communication from Ottawa police since being released from custody on Saturday. A public apology would be appreciated, he said.

"We deserve some answers. They're talking to other people, we should be reached out by them first," said Manveer Singh, who also lives in Quebec, in the Montreal suburb of Vaudreuil-Dorion.

Interim police chief Steve Bell shared that the service had reached out to Ottawa’s Sikh community in a letter to the city's police services board Tuesday night.

The RCMP is conducting an ongoing investigation into the event, Bell said, noting that in light of that investigation, his force is limited in what it can share about Saturday's incident, but added it will work to give as much information as possible to "ensure transparency."

Mounties would not confirm that an investigation is underway. The RCMP said for privacy and operational reasons, it can only confirm details related to criminal investigations where charges have been laid.

When the RCMP probe finishes, Ottawa police will review the incident and community feedback to look at how it can improve its response to similar incidents, Bell said.

"That makes me feel a little better, that the police are working on that," said Parminder Singh, adding he has a right to know who made the complaint against him.

Manveer Singh also said knowing law enforcement are investigating the incident makes him feel "a little good" and a bit more relaxed.

"They're working on at least something. I don't know if it is just lip service or they're really doing something. That's the question," he said.

Parminder Singh said he would like to see the individuals responsible charged for submitting wrongful information about him and his community.

Bell provided a timeline of the incident on Saturday that prompted the evacuation of Parliament and closure of surrounding streets, raising public alarm about a major security threat in the national capital.

He said just after 11 a.m., a federal agency provided police with “a detailed and specific threat" about the potential use of explosives in the area of Parliament Hill.


“The threat was complicated by time factors related to a planned event,” he said.

Police immediately co-ordinated with RCMP and the Parliamentary Protective Service. By noon, officers began securing the area near Parliament Hill and closed multiple streets to pedestrian and vehicle traffic, while the PPS decided to evacuate people on the Hill.

Police found two “individuals of interest” at 2:08 p.m. and 2:41 p.m. and they were arrested, advised of their rights and taken to the police station to be interviewed. Two vehicles were searched and no explosives were found, Bell said.

Just after 3:30 p.m., the area was reopened to the public.

“The initial investigation revealed there was no evidence to support further detention or charges at that time,” he said.

By 4:10 p.m., both people were released. Investigators provided “an explanation about the information received and why they were arrested,” Bell said, and they were offered rides back to their vehicles, but a friend drove them back instead.

“Our officers acted on the information received to ensure public safety. The officers took multiple actions in good faith and worked as quickly and effectively as possible to investigate the potential threat.”

Parminder Singh and Manveer Singh have said that, when they were released from custody, officers apologized and explained they were victims of a “terrorism hoax.” But they were not told who targeted them with the tip.

The men are organizers of a rally held in remembrance of the victims of the 1984 massacre of Sikhs in India. They had a permit to hold the event on the Hill, but when it was shut down due to the threat, they relocated to the nearby Supreme Court of Canada lawn.

They have said that when police arrested them, they told them their names were connected to the bomb threat. Manveer Singh said police claimed they had “credible information” linking him to the threat.

"What was that credible information that led police to arrest me?” he asked.

At the police station, the men said they were made to remove their turbans. Manveer Singh also had to remove a bracelet called a kara and a ceremonial dagger known as a kirpan.

Both men said they are still suffering from lingering effects of the incident. Manveer Singh said he’s still in shock and finding it hard to concentrate on his work.

"I have so many sleepless nights,” added Parminder Singh.

“I couldn't sleep all this time, thinking why and what happened to me, the way Ottawa police handled this situation totally wrongfully.”

Bell said police are aware of the effect law enforcement's response had on the individuals who were arrested.

"Our relationship with the Sikh community is important to us," he said in the letter to the police board.

“Our intent is to work to explain our response and alleviate any doubts with respect to community support, and to provide reassurance that Ottawa police is working to better understand and address the needs of our communities.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 15, 2022.

---

This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.

Erika Ibrahim, The Canadian Press

DISARM DEFUND DISMANTLE

Newly released race-based data renews calls to defund Toronto police

TORONTO — The release of previously unseen Toronto police statistics showing disproportionate enforcement and use of force against Black residents is renewing calls to defund the police, two years after city council voted against such a proposal.



Following the data's publication Wednesday, several anti-racism groups and civil rights advocates said community safety would be better achieved by redirecting police funding to social supports and services.

Desmond Cole, with the No Pride in Policing Coalition, said that instead of assurances that police will do better in the future, the group has been seeking a "political solution" from Toronto's mayor and council, who are facing a municipal election in the fall.

Defunding, and eventually abolishing, police would help ensure “they can’t hurt us like this anymore,” he said.

“We didn’t need people with guns and Tasers and body armour and vests engaging in the kind of behaviour that’s in this report ... and what this report should be talking about is that we still don’t need any of those things,” he said.

Moya Teku, executive director of the Black Legal Action Centre, said police continue to fail to serve and protect Black people "and yet, year after year, all levels of government continue to pour money into police services."

"The solution is not to provide the police with more money for body scanners, or training," Teku said in a statement Wednesday. "It is to de-task the police and to redirect funding into those services that will actually protect and serve and increase the public safety of Black people."

Abby Deshman, director of criminal justice for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, said police "need to step back, and make room for social service supports and civilian led crisis interventions."

Toronto Mayor John Tory's office said Thursday that he believes in "investing in eliminating systemic racism in the Toronto Police Service" and has supported recent reforms, including those that led to the collection and release of the race-based data.

"But the mayor has been very clear that he believes that we cannot shortchange public safety given that we hear from communities across the city which are in fact asking for additional investment in police resources, particularly in initiatives such as neighbourhood policing," his office said in a statement.

"The mayor will continue to strongly support policing reforms which will rebuild trust. He will continue to carefully consider which tasks might be better carried out by non-police organizations and will seek corresponding budget changes. And while he will continue to oversee prudent financial management of all resources allocated for policing, he does not support the significant, often arbitrary, reductions advocated by some.”


In 2020, two Toronto councillors introduced a motion to cut the force's budget by 10 per cent – about $107 million – and use that money for community services.

The motion was rejected in favour of a series of reforms proposed by the mayor, which included anti-racism measures and the implementation of body-worn cameras.

The move followed multiple protests that saw thousands of people flock to Toronto streets over several weeks to demand changes to policing.

The protests were part of a global response to the police killing of George Floyd, a Black man from Minneapolis. They also came weeks after the death in Toronto of 29-year-old Regis Korchinski-Paquet, a Black woman who fell from her balcony while police were in her home.

Sam Tecle, an assistant professor of sociology at Toronto Metropolitan University, said the public conversations on defunding police at that time were an important acknowledgment that police don't represent safety for racialized people and other historically marginalized groups.

Defunding, and ultimately abolishing police is asking people to engage in a "total reimagining" of society, he said, noting many communities have already, out of necessity, put in place systems to keep themselves safe without calling police.

"That idea of abolishing the police has never wavered in many of us," Tecle said. "Every time that the police force puts on this kind of dog and pony show, it reignites the debate."

On Wednesday, Toronto police released statistics that show Black people in the city faced a disproportionate amount of police enforcement and use of force in 2020 and were more likely to have an officer point a gun at them – whether perceived as armed or unarmed – than white people in the same situation.

Middle Eastern people were also overrepresented when it came to enforcement and use of force, according to the report. Latino and East and Southeast Asian residents, meanwhile, experienced less enforcement in comparison to their representation in the population but saw more use of force when they did interact with police.

There were also racial differences in strip searches, with Indigenous, Black and white residents searched disproportionately compared with how many of them were arrested.

The numbers were the first to be released under the force's race-based data policy, which was adopted in 2019 after the provincial government passed legislation requiring several public sectors to collect such information. It also followed several reports on race and policing.

Toronto's interim police chief, James Ramer, apologized to the city's Black residents Wednesday as the statistics were published, saying the force needs to do better.

During his news conference, Ramer was asked about the calls to defund police and whether the force would consider offloading some services to community groups.

"When we hear that discussion, what ... the community's talking about is reform and it's talking about modernization of the police service," Ramer replied.

"The reality is that we are engaged in a number of processes in terms of alternate service delivery and we want to be engaged in that," he said, pointing to what he deemed "great advancements" in diverting calls that come into the police call centre.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 16, 2022.

Paola Loriggio, The Canadian Press

http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/kropotkin/orgveng.html

Kropotkin: Organized Vengeance called "justice" - Anarchy Archives 

So-called Justice is a survival from a past serfdom based, for the interest of the privileged classes, on the Roman law and on the ideas of divine Vengeance. In ...

Backlogged justice system can't return to pre-pandemic ways, chief justice warns

OTTAWA — Canada's chief justice says the legal system must continue to modernize and innovate, warning it cannot return to pre-pandemic ways of doing business.



The Supreme Court of Canada's Richard Wagner told a news conference Thursday that all players in the justice system are reassessing what they do, how they do it, and how effectively they meet the needs of the people they serve.

Wagner insists access to justice is not just a fundamental right or a service, but above all a basic human need and an essential ingredient of democracy.

He acknowledged meeting the expectation of timely justice is a big task, especially with so many courts facing backlogs and delays.

Wagner said this is why a committee on court operations in response to COVID-19 continues to meet even as the pandemic eases.

The committee recently drafted a document for judges and court administrators with practical suggestions to deal with matters faster and more effectively.

The Supreme Court began holding hearings via video conference, as well as hybrid sessions, in 2020 to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Other courts across the country also moved to quickly adapt, allowing use of audio and video technology for hearings as well as more digital documents.

Wagner said last year the Supreme Court would continue to hold virtual hearings beyond the COVID-19 pandemic if participants agree to them.

"Now, we actively encourage remote hearings," he said Thursday.




The technology levels the playing field for all, giving parties the option to make their case from wherever they choose and offering substantial savings — especially to those farthest from Ottawa, he said.

This improves access to justice, especially for interveners such as public interest groups that present the court with additional context and perspectives on challenging legal issues, Wagner added.

"Truly, it does not matter if counsel is standing before them or appearing on screen. Strong, well-reasoned and persuasive arguments can be made from anywhere."

The courts have a primary role to play in implementing the values of the rule of law and democratic institutions, Wagner said.

However, even in Canada, nothing is certain and "we must constantly remain vigilant" against attacks on those values, he added.

Asked about the "freedom convoy" of anti-government protests that paralyzed downtown Ottawa for weeks last winter, Wagner said it led to deplorable conditions as businesses closed and people lost their jobs.

He cited faulty information circulating largely on social media as part of the explanation for the protests, ostensibly against COVID-19 public health measures enacted by governments but which also revealed mistrust of politicians and other officials.

Wagner said the events, which led to federal invocation of the Emergencies Act to remove large trucks blocking streets, prompted serious security questions.

The Supreme Court building sits just outside the formal parliamentary precinct and therefore does not have the same sort of protective measures as Parliament Hill.

Wagner said he has asked that the court be included as "part of the protection zone" as a result of the protests.

He stressed education and transparency about the role of the court as keys to ensuring people support democracy, judicial independence and the rule of law.

"And if they don't have trust, that's where the problems occur."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 16, 2022.

Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press

FULL PRESS CONFERENCE WITH PRESS QUESTION ANWSER

WHEW THAT WAS CLOSE
Economic loss would have exceeded gains if Edmonton had held World Cup games: expert


EDMONTON — A professor of economics says Edmonton should be happy it was not selected to hold games for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.




Moshe Lander of Concordia University says the cost would have been much more than the economic benefits.

FIFA announced on Thursday that the 48-team tournament will see games played in 16 cities across North America, including Vancouver and Toronto.

Eleven cities in the United States will have games and three will be played in Mexico.

The Alberta government announced $110 million in funding for the bid earlier this year with a condition that five games be played in Edmonton.

Lander says he believes one of the reasons the city was not selected was because of that condition.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 17, 2022.

The Canadian Press

SIGN THE PETITION

Edmonton mom facing deportation makes impassioned plea for her and her daughter to stay in Canada

A mother and daughter from Edmonton facing an imminent deportation order are desperate to remain in Canada.

The Cayanans are scheduled to be deported July 11, 2022 - but hope public pressure will assist them in staying in Canada long-term.

Sarah Ryan / Global News- Yesterday 

Vangie Cayanan came to Canada as a temporary foreign worker back in 2010, but she alleges her employer abused her and when she reported it, she was let go.

The next year, she moved to Edmonton where she continued to work.

In 2015, while still in Canada, Cayanan had a baby girl named McKenna. That's the same year Cayanan became an undocumented migrant.

Recently, her lawyer said the Canada Border Services Agency started rounding up undocumented workers and deporting them.

Family friend Whitney Haynes said the government isn't being fair to the Cayanans.

"She came here legally, under the temporary foreign worker program," Haynes said. "She was abused by her employer, abused by a system which has abused many people -- that throws people away back to their own country just to bring in a new batch of people to do the same jobs."

Cayanan was told she and her daughter would have to leave the country and go to the Philippines on May 11.

After being granted an emergency extension allowing McKenna to finish her school year in Canada, a new deportation date has been scheduled for July 11.

"I'm asking for all the support to stay here because McKenna belongs here, I belong here, we belong here. This is our home," Cayanan said.

Recently, Cayanan said her six-year-old daughter was diagnosed with ADHD and Oppositional Defiant Disorder.

In Canada, McKenna is receiving supports in school and is getting medication for her conditions, something Cayanan said wouldn't happen in the Philippines.

"In an impoverished learning environment, without the resources, I don't know that those special needs can be met," agreed registered social worker Susan Otto.

Plus, they added that McKenna only speaks and understands English.

READ MORE: Toronto senior facing deportation allowed to stay in Canada after more than 20 years

A statement from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said "all foreign nationals are expected to respect our immigration laws by maintaining a legal status while in Canada, restoring their status within 90 days after their status has expired, or returning to their country of origin.

"An individual who remains in Canada more than 90 days after their status expires should leave Canada. From abroad, they may apply to return to Canada through any type of temporary or permanent status they are eligible to apply for."

Options include the permanent residence program or a temporary work permit, according to the government agency.

READ MORE: LBTGQ+ refugee in Quebec facing deportation says he will be killed if sent back to Jordan

"Everyone deserves a work environment where they are safe and their rights are respected. The government takes the safety and dignity of foreign workers very seriously, which is why we've been taking strong action to protect workers since before the pandemic," the statement continued.

"Migrant workers have the same rights to workplace protections under applicable federal, provincial and territorial employment standards and collective agreements as Canadians and permanent residents."

Supporters also say Cayanan has proven herself to be a valuable member of the community.

Despite her status, in 2017 she advocated for children of migrants to have basic rights -- and won.

"Every child born in Canada can access health care now because of her work," explained Clarizze Truscott, vice-chair with Migrante Canada.

Cayanan also helped deliver packages to undocumented people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Her tireless community work earned her the human rights award from the John Humphrey Centre For Peace and Human Rights. This isn't just given to anybody," Truscott said.

"We should strive to keep these kinds of wonderful people in our community, because these are the people who contribute positively to the community, always," explained her lawyer, Manraj Sidhu.

He is appealing the deportation order based on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. But that process could take three years.

"I don't want to beg, I just want to fight for her rights. McKenna deserves everything, just like other children here in Canada," Cayanan explained.

In the meantime, Migrante Canada launched a petition for the family to stay, hoping to present it to the federal minister of immigration.

The petition already has more than 2,100 signatures.

"No worker should ever feel like this. No human should ever feel like this. No child should ever, ever be part of this process," Haynes said.

"Obviously there's a very real need for workers here, it's all over the media. I don't understand why we're expanding the temporary foreign worker program when we can just let the workers here stay here, that have developed a strong sense of community here."

Migrante said there are currently more than half a million undocumented people in Canada

SEE 

https://plawiuk.blogspot.com/2022/06/filipino-woman-allegedly-abused-by-her.html