The existential crisis in the Conservative Party

 ABOVE: (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) Conservative leadership candidates Scott Aitchison, Roman Baber, Patrick Brown, Pierre Poilievre, Leslyn Lewis, and Jean Charest. There is an adage that perfectly fits the Conservative Party of Canada today, “‘Do You Want to Be Right . . . or do you want to win.” The answer to that question

It’s time for brain over brawn in policing

 As a result of some very disturbing incidents involving the use of force by the RCMP Bill Blair, the Minister of Public Safety, has been tasked with examining the standards and protocols involving police and the use of force. Part of the dilemma is that police officers are inadequately trained when

Links to City News stories about police misconduct

 Ottawa cop accused of creating racist meme found guilty, police board to hear https://ottawa.citynews.ca/police-beat/ottawa-cop-accused-of-creating-racist-meme-found-guilty-police-board-to-hear-3910008 Ottawa public school board ends police officer program https://ottawa.citynews.ca/local-news/ottawa-public-school-board-ends-police-officer-program-3906390 Violent arrest of cyclist in Vancouver caught on video https://www.citynews1130.com/2020/08/12/video-violent-arrest-cyclist-vancouver/ "It was humiliating" : Black man speaks out after violent arrest https://www.facebook.com/CityNewsYEG/videos/272568030502181/?vh=e&d=n Toronto police officers among 10

Links to Ottawa Life articles police misconduct

 Oversight and temperament problems at Ottawa Police Service https://www.ottawalife.com/article/oversight-and-temperament-problems-at-ottawa-police-service?c=13 Attorney General must investigate misogyny at Ottawa Police https://www.ottawalife.com/article/attorney-general-must-investigate-misogyny-at-ottawa-police?c=13 Halifax Police Chief Dan Kinsella is proof a fish rots from the head down https://www.ottawalife.com/article/halifax-police-chief-dan-kinsella-is-proof-a-fish-rots-from-the-head-down?c=1 A hapless response to racism from Jacques Fremont's ivory tower at UOttawa https://www.ottawalife.com/article/a-hapless-response-to-racism-from-jacques-fremonts-ivory-tower-at-uottawa Seamus O'Regan's Failure at Grassy

A list of MSN News stories about police misconduct

 Provincial watchdog probes often don't lead to charges against police  https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/provincial-watchdog-probes-often-don-t-lead-to-charges-against-police/ar-BB16hHjN?ocid=msedgdhp

Links to The Star stories about police misconduct

 Researchers tracked nearly 150 charges against Ontario police officers since 2005. Most ended in acquittal or withdrawn charges https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2021/03/16/researchers-tracked-nearly-150-charges-against-ontario-police-officers-since-2005-most-ended-in-acquittal-or-withdrawn-charges.html Team of Toronto cops conspired to lie in court under oath, judge finds https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2021/05/06/team-of-toronto-cops-conspired-to-lie-in-court-under-oath-judge-finds.html 'Tragic, preposterous': Family of Soleiman Faqiri reacts as OPP says it won't charge jail guards in mentally ill

Vice

 Assault on 13 year old boy https://www.tiktok.com/@acab604/video/6850882990168345862?u_code=dbkdkdd8km816m&preview_pb=0&language=en&_d=dbkdkghc2584kd&share_item_id=6850882990168345862&timestamp=1595163879&utm_campaign=client_share&app=musically&utm_medium=ios&user_id=6813165400408392710&tt_from=more&utm_source=more&source=h5_m What You Should Do When You Witness Police Brutality https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/dyzxdx/what-you-should-do-when-you-witness-police-brutality Toronto cop, who has been paid $1-million on suspension, nears legal decision https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/g5pyqy/toronto-cop-who-has-been-paid-dollar1-million-on-suspension-nears-legal-decision Two Canadian police officers have been charged after killing potential witness https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/3azb39/two-canadian-police-officers-have-been-charged-after-killing-potential-witness Halifax returned a tank: How Canadian cities are

Ottawa Police Are Their Own Worst Enemy

 Photo credit: Perth Photography via flickr In early May, the Ottawa Police were called to Tillbury Park on Sherbourne Road to break up a fight between students from Notre Dame High School and nearby Nepean High School. The fight, which involved more than 40 youth, was captured on video and

The cancer that is killing police officers

 By Kelly Donovan This article was originally published on February 24, 2019 Last week, I escorted my daughter out of Sick Kids at McMaster in a wheelchair after having a tumour removed from her cheek. While waiting for our ride, my phone alerted me to an email from the Superior Court

What We Need to Learn from the Death of Sammy Yatim

 As long as there is something we can learn from the shooting death of Sammy Yatim by a Toronto Police Officer, than the 18-year-old's passing will not have been in vain.  If you follow the innumerable examples of wrongdoing by police, not just in this province but across Canada, one

The Chaos that is the RCMP

 I have read in various media reports that the RCMP officers in Moncton who responded to the call of an individual walking down a street brandishing a firearm were only equipped with pistols and shotguns. I was very shocked and dismayed to read these reports because in 2009 I was

RURAL RANT — Tailgating is Not Cool

 So I was driving to Ottawa recently. It was early afternoon and I took the Queensway into the city, and what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a bunch of tailgating drivers. I do not understand how the practice of driving less than one car length behind another vehicle, at speeds over 100

Lest We Forget

 Many years ago, I used to go to the Remembrance Day ceremonies at the War Memorial on Elgin Street, but once Canada became embroiled in international conflicts, the huge crowds of spectators on Confederation Square made it impossible to see, hear or park. Then I discovered Remembrance Day in Russell