The head of Vancouver’s Dr. Peter AIDS Centre, which also offers supervised injection services, responds to the Supreme Court’s ruling.
supreme court of canada
A triumph for Insite
During its eight years of operation, Insite has been proven to save lives with no discernible negative impact on the public safety and health objectives of Canada. The effect of denying the services of Insite to the population it serves and the correlative increase in the risk of death and disease to injection drug users is grossly disproportionate to any benefit that Canada might derive from presenting a uniform stance on the possession of narcotics.
- The Supreme Court of Canada, Sept. 30, 2011
Minding the language of Supreme Court appointees
New Brunswick MP Yvon Godin wants the House of Commons to approve a motion saying new appointees to the Supreme Court should be bilingual, meaning able to follow proceedings in both official languages without using an interpreter. Eight of the nine sitting justices already meet this criteria.
The Conservatives are opposing the motion, led by Justice Minister Rob Nicholson. Michael Ignatieff is likely to be embarrassed if some Liberal M.P.s break ranks to oppose it. The Bloc hopes it will be rejected, creating front page news in Quebec.
Social media is an opportunity to discuss law, endangered caribou and First Nations rights
The Supreme Court of Canada's Chief Justice, Beverly McLachlan, raised many virtual eyebrows on January 31 when she expressed concern about the impacts of social media on Canada's justice system. Her worry is that people using social media as their main information source may be getting an inaccurate impression of the justice system.
Especially timely -- at least to West Coast Environmental Law -- was her question: "How can a medium such as Twitter inform the public accurately or adequately, in 140 characters or less, of the real gist of a complex constitutional decision?"
2.jpg "David Climenhaga, author of the Alberta Diary blog, is a journalist, author, journalism teacher, poet and trade union communicator who has worked in senior writing and editing positions with the Toronto Globe and Mail and the Calgary Herald. His 1995 book, A Poke in the Public Eye, explores the relationships among Canadian journalists, public relations people and politicians. He left journalism after the strike at the Calgary Herald in 1999 and 2000 to work as Communications Director of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, which with more than 73,000 members is Alberta’s largest union and Canada’s 10th largest. Alberta Diary focuses on Alberta politics and social issues. Contact: albertadiary @ gmail.com")
![Living On Purpose](http://rabble.ca/sites/rabble/files/imagecache/thumbnail/category_pictures/living100x100.jpg "Lynn Thompson is the host and producer of "Living on Purpose", a thoughtful, nourishing blend of ideas, conversation and music offered in a spirit of health and well-being. Guests are invited to share their insights and inspirations through how they embrace life's challenges and opportunities.")
