The Hook: Political news, freshly caught
BCGEU, other unions to take strike action September 5
On September 5, two days after Labour Day, B.C. unions that represent directly employed civil servants across the province will mount a day-long work stoppage. The B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU), Professional Employees Association (PEA) and Canadian Office & Professional Employees Union (COPE) Local 378 will join forces to take approximately 27,000 public service workers out on strike at 1,785 government work sites in 153 communities. For one of the involved unions, this will be the first strike in its 38-year history. Read more…
Should There Be More Regulations on Big Tech?
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Are you watching the winter Olympics this year? Read the results of that poll here.
BC nurses concerned about choice of flu shots or masks
The B.C. Nurses' Union will meet on Monday with the Health Employers' Association of B.C. and a chief medical officer to discuss a new requirement that all health care workers get a flu shot or wear a mask when dealing with patients. Read more…
War on Terror threat to democracy in Canada: American Civil Liberties Union
A top lawyer at the world's largest civil liberties organization warns that Canada's increasing participation in the so-called "War on Terror" has jeopardized democracy. Read more…
Canadians' health divided by income: CMA
The health gap is widening between rich and poor Canadians, the Canadian Medical Association says. The CMA is meeting in Yellowknife to consider how to reduce that gap. Read more…
Groups urge BC premier to launch public inquiry on Integrated Case Management system
B.C.'s Freedom of Information and Privacy Association and other non-profit groups and privacy advocates have written a letter to Premier Christy Clark urging she create a public inquiry into the flawed computer system that is putting children at risk according to the province's independent Representative for Children and Youth. Read more…
Canadian troops trained by Blackwater without U.S. permission: court documents
OTTAWA - Canadian troops and police were trained for two years by the international security contractor formerly known as Blackwater without the permission of the U.S. State Department. Read more…
First Call critiques 'alleged' BC poverty strategy
First Call: BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition says the B.C. government's localized poverty strategy won't work without money and new policies for reducing and preventing poverty. Read more…
Third-party manager's appointment to Attawapiskat 'contrary to law': Federal Court
Justice Michael L. Phelan of the Federal Court has declared that the appointment of a third-party manager for Attawapiskat First Nation was "contrary to law." Read more…
Hundreds of women come forward to join RCMP harassment class-action lawsuit
VANCOUVER, B.C. -- Hundreds of current and former female Mounties have come forward to join a class-action lawsuit alleging harassment within the ranks of the RCMP. Read more…
Prosecution nixed Omar Khadr guilty pleas two years before conviction
TORONTO -- Two years before the plea deal that was supposed to mean his quick exit from Guantanamo Bay, Omar Khadr offered to plead guilty to terrorism charges in Canada in exchange for a relatively lenient sentence and speedy transfer to Canada, documents show. Read more…
Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson leaves Germany; destination unknown
TORONTO -- The Sea Shepherd Society environmental group confirms its founder, Paul Watson, has left Germany and is now in an undisclosed location. Read more…
US gun culture and resonance in Canada chronicled by Tyee
The mass shooting in Aurora, Colorado, again raises a by now common concern in Canada. What risks stem from bordering a nation ten times as large with far more lax regulations on guns? From The Tyee's earliest days, our writers have examined the implications from various angles. Here's a sampling. Read more…
Mountie convicted of obstruction of justice in deadly BC crash discharged
NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. -- Veteran RCMP officer Cpl. Benjamin (Monty) Robinson, whose involvement in Robert Dziekanski's death and unrelated conviction in a fatal accident made him an example of the bad apples the Mounties have been unable to fire, voluntarily left the force Friday. Read more…
BC AIDS doctors join international chorus targeting the 'war on drugs'
VANCOUVER -- Two prominent Canadian doctors have joined an international campaign calling on world leaders to stop the spread of AIDS by ending the so called war on drugs. Read more…
Two years later, abused Khaira forestry workers still waiting for redress
African immigrant workers subjected to racist taunts, management violence, inadequate shelter, bad food and bounced paycheques have still not been compensated for their ordeal, according to a statement released today by the British Columbia Public Interest Advocacy Centre. Read more…
Audit all private clinics in BC urges public health care advocate
A provincial government audit that found illegal billing practices at two B.C. private clinics is reason to examine the books at every private clinic in the province, says a public health advocacy group. Read more…
Provincial tracking system puts vulnerable children at risk, says watchdog
The province's new computerized system for keeping track of children and their families could put vulnerable minors under the government's care in harm's way, says the province's children and youth watchdog. Read more…
'Contradictory' ethics rulings on Clement, Paradis and Guergis: Democracy Watch
Three recent rulings by Federal Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson are contradictory and further erode confidence in her ability to do her job, according to Duff Conacher of the Democracy Watch, a non-profit that monitors government transparency and ethics issues. A statement by Conacher circulated to media today states: Read more…
Conflict of interest concerns cause Whistler Tourism shakeup
Councillor Jayson Faulkner has stepped down from the board of Tourism Whistler over concerns raised by fellow board members that he is in a conflict of interest. Read more…
Harper's lawyers attack former cabinet minister's defamation suit
A lawyer for the prime minister is delivering a withering attack on a defamation case brought by a former cabinet minister. Read more…
