The hot Canadian debate over "two-tiered" health care has -- thanks to Canada's unelected and unaccountable Senate -- been suddenly replaced by a hot debate over "two-tiered" justice. That's what Winnipeg South MP Rod Bruinooge is calling amendments the Senate has proposed for a crime bill currently before them. The amendments introduced Wednesday have outraged the Conservatives and their supporters. They've once again accused the Senate of "gutting" a major crime bill - -- this one dealing with mandatory minimums. [continues 359 words]
Manitoba's new justice minister Andrew Swan is obviously anxious to put his stamp on the province's justice system. So he's introduced legislation he's hoping will close a loophole in the punishment handed out to those Manitobans convicted of drug trafficking while using a vehicle. That being said it's clear Swan's proposed changes to the Highway Traffic Act will have little effect on the drug business. Under Swan's plan introduced Tuesday, those convicted of a drug-trafficking offence involving driving would have their driver's licence suspended for a year for a first conviction, five years for a second, 10 years for a third and for life for a fourth or subsequent conviction. Not all of the previous convictions would need to be for drug trafficking. [continues 308 words]
With Winnipeggers arguing mightily over whether or not Daniell Anderson is getting the prison sentence he deserves, the more pressing issue is not the time he's been given but how much of it will he actually serve. Throwing him in prison is one thing but there's bigger fish to fry when it comes to keeping criminals like him behind bars so that they are legitimately punished. It's a no-brainer that he should stay behind bars for a very long time. But this is Canada's infamous parole system we're talking about. The folks at the National Parole Board act like they've never heard of the term do the crime, serve the time. [continues 349 words]
In the ethical spat that is brewing between health minister Theresa Oswald and the Manitoba Nurses Union, about whether or not the names of nurses who are disciplined for being addicts should be made public, it's somewhat humourous to hear Oswald's reason for rejecting a change to the law. "Protection of the public needs to be paramount," the health minister told the Canadian Press. In other words, openness and transparency is the way to go when dealing with the health care of Manitobans. Patient safety is at risk so these hard-working nurses, beset by addiction problems, need to be named. [continues 335 words]
Something is wrong when millions of dollars are being spent by the Conservatives to clean up our nation's drug-infested prisons -yet almost a quarter of prisoners either tested positive or refused to be tested for narcotics and booze in 2008. Figures released by the Correctional Service of Canada show 7,613 samples were requested for random urinanalysis tests designed to detect cocaine, cannabis, opiates and many pharmaceuticals. More than 850 inmates refused the testing competely while more than 13% of those who agreed tested positive for an illicit substance. [continues 130 words]
Something is wrong when millions of dollars are being spent by the Conservatives to clean up our nation's drug-infested prisons -- yet almost a quarter of prisoners either tested positive or refused to be tested for narcotics and booze in 2008. Figures released by Correctional Service of Canada show 7,613 samples were requested for random urinanalysis tests designed to detect cocaine, cannabis, opiates and many pharmaceuticals. More than 850 inmates refused the testing competely while more than 13 per cent of those who agreed tested positive for an illicit substance. [continues 243 words]
Something is wrong when millions of dollars are being spent by the Conservatives to clean up our nation's drug-infested prisons -- yet almost a quarter of prisoners either tested positive or refused to be tested for narcotics and booze in 2008. Figures released by Correctional Service of Canada show 7,613 samples were requested for random urinanalysis tests designed to detect cocaine, cannabis, opiates and many pharmaceuticals. More than 850 inmates refused the testing completely while more than 13% of those who agreed tested positive for an illicit substance. [continues 243 words]
Something is wrong when millions of dollars are being spent by the Conservatives to clean up our nation's drug-infested prisons -- yet almost a quarter of prisoners either tested positive or refused to be tested for narcotics and booze in 2008. Figures released by Correctional Service of Canada show 7,613 samples were requested for random urinanalysis tests designed to detect cocaine, cannabis, opiates and many pharmaceuticals. More than 850 inmates refused the testing competely while more than 13% of those who agreed tested positive for an illicit substance. [continues 243 words]
Every now and then the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba releases one of its studies which shows widespread drug and alcohol use by Manitoba's teenagers. The reports are consistently greeted with a chorus of "Oh my Gods" and "good griefs" as if it's some great surprise this kind of behaviour is taking place. The major findings in the latest report shows binge drinking among teens is on the rise and that Manitoba rates higher than the national average. The Foundation polled almost 5,000 students from 55 randomly selected middle and high schools in Manitoba. Binge drinking, as defined by the Foundation, is consuming five or more drinks in one sitting -- almost half of the drinkers said they had five or more drinks on one occasion, while a quarter had eight or more. [continues 321 words]
