Rights + Justice
Appeal court upholds ruling on protection of orca habitat
By February 10, 2012 04:45 pm 2 commentsA federal appeal court ruled yesterday that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans failed in its legal responsibility to protect habitat for orcas, the sleek, black and white killer whales that swim off the coast of B.C. Read more…
Filed inForeign takeover score is 14,218 to two calculates Mel Hurtig, who speaks Saturday
By February 10, 2012 03:10 pm 10 commentsPrime minister Brian Mulroney abolished the Foreign Investment Review Agency (FIRA) in 1985 as part of his free trade agenda. Since then, how many Canadian firms have been bought by foreign companies and how many such sales have been blocked? The score is 14,218 to two, according to Mel Hurtig, prolific author, founder of the Council of Canadians and former leader of the National Party of Canada. Read more…
Filed inPrime Minister Harper mixes oil with human rights on visit to China
By February 10, 2012 09:46 am 8 commentsGUANGZHOU, China - Stephen Harper left the old political world of Beijing for a new industrial capital of China to deliver his strongest words yet on human rights and oil. Read more…
Civil jury finds former BC premier Vander Zalm guilty of defamation
By February 9, 2012 04:38 pm 11 commentsVANCOUVER - Former premier Bill Vander Zalm has been found guilty of defamation and has been ordered to pay $60,000 in compensation. Read more…
Filed inEgypt: 'Nothing will satisfy the protestors'
By February 8, 2012 04:15 pm 1 commentsA scarved, pious Muslim woman comments profoundly, "Nothing will satisfy the protestors. Even if Prophet Mohammed, peace be upon him, came down to them from heaven and did things his perfect way, they won't be satisfied. Nothing will appease them." Read more…
Filed inNew jail unlikely to reduce Aboriginal incarceration: criminologist
By February 8, 2012 03:30 pm 5 commentsOsoyoos Indian Band Chief Clarence Louie suggested earlier this week that hosting a new prison on the First Nation's land is going to help reduce the over representation of Aboriginal people in the corrections system.
But Simon Fraser University criminology professor Neil Boyd said he thinks that's an unlikely result of building the new jail. Read more…
BC justice system review is more talk when action needed, say critics
By February 8, 2012 01:00 pm 1 commentsOpponents panned British Columbia Premier Christy Clark's announcement this morning of a review of the justice system. Read more…
UBC profs say Aboriginal oral history misunderstood
By February 6, 2012 03:59 pmAlthough it's been recognized as a legitimate form of evidence in Canada's courtrooms since 1997, UBC academics say misunderstanding and bias against Aboriginal cultures and practices have created confusion around the use of oral history in Canada's courtrooms. It's an error they say we need to correct, especially given the prominence of its use in Aboriginal land claims. Read more…
Filed inAttawapiskat third party manager will stay: Federal Court judge
By February 3, 2012 04:20 pmFederal Court Judge Michael L. Phelan has turned down the Attawapiskat First Nation's request to enjoin the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs from imposing third party management, or at least to keep the third party manager from being paid out of funds intended for the members of the Attawapiskat First Nation. Read more…
Youth reps: Canada needs national strategy for Aboriginal children
By February 2, 2012 04:38 pmCanada must develop a comprehensive plan to improve the lives of Aboriginal children, says a national coalition of youth advocates. Read more…
Youth advocates launch BC child labour study
By February 1, 2012 03:41 pm 2 commentsNine years since the Liberal government changed labour regulations to allow children as young as 12 to find employment, a lack of government oversight has prompted First Call BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition to launch their own study of youth labour. Read more…
Filed inInequality growing here and across Canada: BC Stats
By January 31, 2012 03:50 pm 7 commentsB.C.'s income gap has been growing for 15 years, says B.C. Statistics in a recent report, and only Alberta has more after-tax income inequality than we do. Read more…
RCMP complaints commission demands laws to speed police response to complaints
By January 31, 2012 10:50 amThe demand comes as the commission has released its final report into the July 2003 in-custody death of Prince George, B.C., resident Clay Alvin Willey. It took RCMP 14 months to respond to commission's previous report examining the death of the aboriginal man. Read more…
Filed inMonth on welfare challenge wins more media attention than years as critic
By January 31, 2012 08:00 am 3 commentsSurrey-Fleetwood MLA Jagrup Brar's effort to live for a month on a welfare-level income of $610 has generated many more headlines than his years as the official opposition's critic on the file ever did. Read more…
Attawapiskat seeks injunction against third-party manager
By January 28, 2012 05:35 pm 4 commentsThe Attawapiskat First Nation has filed a request for an injunction removing the third-party manager imposed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, while Chief Theresa Spence has also signed an affidavit comparing the impact of the third-party manager to her experience in residential school. Read more…
PMO threatened environmental charity, affidavit alleges
By January 24, 2012 03:34 pm 10 commentsA former employee of an environmental group critical of a proposed oilsands pipeline says the Prime Minister's Office threatened a funding agency if it didn't pull its support for the group. A spokesman for Prime Minister Stephen Harper denies the allegations. Read more…
Media outlets post Vancouver riot photos online before handing over to police
By January 23, 2012 12:45 pm 1 commentsSix media outlets in British Columbia will hand over thousands of photos and videos of last June’s Vancouver riot to police under a court order – but not before some put them online for readers to see. Read more…
Filed inThe Arab spring through women's eyes
By January 19, 2012 08:00 pm 1 commentsManal Al Sharif tells us about life for Saudi women. In perfect English, she explains that Saudi women always wear black -- a cover worn over their regular clothes -- and that they remain minors until they die. Clearly upset, she explains that while decision-making bodies exclude women, a woman can't do anything without a male giving her permission. Read more…
Filed inBC has spent $125,000 fighting to keep IBM contract secrets
By January 19, 2012 03:35 pmThe British Columbia government has wasted nearly $125,000 on legal bills to keep a contract with IBM secret, according to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. Read more…
Filed inAddict turned expert says mainstream view of addiction needs rethink
By January 19, 2012 12:05 pmThe way that North Americans think about drug addiction is "mistaken, nasty, and stupid," says Dr. Peter Ferentzy, a Toronto-based addiction specialist and a recovering "crackhead." This Sunday, Ferentzy will be touting his book and speaking about Canadian drug policy at a lecture in Downtown Vancouver. Read more…
The next page contains:
Government to repeal law on sending election results before polls close
No charges one year after alleged slaughter
Occupy movement calls for worldwide general strike on May Day
Cairo: The calm before the storm
Three kinds of thugs emerging in Cairo
Canada's top CEOs have already earned what you'll work all year for: CCPA
Vancouver blogger covers 'blue bra' beating in Tahrir Square
UN criticizes conditions in Attawapiskat
Fate of B.C.'s failed drunk drivers to be debated in court after law tossed
BC implements new Taser rules for police in wake of Dziekanski death
BC opponents slam gov't ban on veils at citizenship ceremonies
Protesters stage brief, rolling blockades at Vancouver port
Attawapiskat: Duncan says Spence accepts third-party management; Spence says "it's a lie"
Attawapiskat must pay Ottawa appointee $1,300 a day to run its finances
New police investigation boss should look at old cases: Wright
National law organization joins call to ban asbestos
BC gov't can't hide ministers' records from FOI with 'Out of Scope' claims
Six Canadian youth kicked out of Durban climate talks after protest
New RCMP boss promises to crack down on bad behaviour
Appointed third-party manager kicked out of Attawapiskat
The page after that contains:
Income gap widening in Canada: OECD
NDP leadership candidate opens 'distracting' debate on monarchy
Protestors occupy Vancouver condo construction site
Alleged victim of police sexual harassment to 'tell truth' at Pickton inquiry
BC mushroom farm owners fined $350,000 for deaths of three workers
Illegal for BC Ferries to add fuel surcharges, says NDP's Coons
Minister Bell explains source of error on gay tourism ban
Ban on polygamy upheld by BC Supreme Court
BC still number one on child poverty, says report
Two-year transition on BC legislative clerks too long, says NDP's Horgan
Occupy Vancouver ordered off courthouse property
Government cuts put prison guards in danger: criminologist
Occupy Vancouver leaves art gallery, moves to courthouse
Pepper-spraying cop now an Internet meme
New BC family law will protect sugar daddies' wealth, says MLA
More action wanted on premier's aboriginal action plan promise
BC finance minister positive about federal pension change
BC gives gas industry violators gentle treatment
Occupy Wall Street evicted but protests continue
Tories plead guilty, face $52,000 fines in election spending case
Off the Throne
The British Columbia legislature resumes sitting this week, but not before Premier Christy Clark outlined her spring agenda in an appearance on the Vancouver radio station where she used to work in what was pitched as a replacement for the throne speech. That agenda amounted to staying the course: focus on the economy, no money for teachers or anything else, and no higher taxes.
This from a premier who won the leadership of her party on a "change" platform. Perhaps appropriate then that the government didn't bother with a more formal speech from the throne at a time when polls suggest an increasing number of people are wondering if the premier's going to, as they say, piss or get off the pot.
-- Andrew MacLeod
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The Hook Most Recent
Appeal court upholds ruling on protection of orca habitat
Foreign takeover score is 14,218 to two calculates Mel Hurtig, who speaks Saturday
Abbott blames teachers' union, hints at legislation
Greens exaggerating fracking fears 'to control you': Santorum
Prime Minister Harper mixes oil with human rights on visit to China
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Ready to take your game up a notch? Sign up to learn from our experts this spring. Did we mention there will be wine?
BC's Double Standard on FOI Secrecy Perplexes Researcher
Which government asked for mounds of Enbridge pipeline info? And why can't we know?
Time to Zip John Baird's Loose Lips
As if to embody the opposite of diplomacy, he fans hazardous flames in Middle East.
Why Can't Vancouver Keep Its Start-ups Here?
Local talent churns out hot new enterprise! If that's such a good story here, why does it keep ending someplace else?
Becoming the Ethical Hunter
Knife in hand, I remember the maxim that brought me to Deadman Valley: if you eat it, you should kill it. At least once.