It’s been another hard week for those in the business of news. From the consolidation of newsrooms to strikes and layoffs, the situation seems to have become particularly dire. It’s leading some to wonder, what will the future hold for these long-time institutions? As Nick Fillmore reports, unless government intervention occurs, Canadian journalism is doomed. But it’s only the nature of the industry that has changed –Canadians are growing tired of big media and its corporate mentality. This and other challenges are making intervention difficult, though it’s already shown considerable success in Scandinavia. So what’s to be done? Read on to find out.
Pamela Palmater brings us an update on Ontario’s police services –and it’s not pretty. Police violence has reached a crisis level in the province, with more than 50 officers currently suspended with pay. From sexual assault to forging evidence, the list of offenses indicates the problem is more widespread than the oft-told narrative of “a few bad apples” –and yet we continue to suspend our disbelief. Sentiments like, “you arrested her, you can do whatever the fuck you want to do,” are astonishingly common in the reports. Troublingly, much of the offenses are racially-motivated, a fact that further underscores the necessity of institutional change.
That change is needed in cases of domestic violence as well. In Canada, these cases make up a quarter of crimes reported to the police –and yet, as Doreen Nicoll reports, many officers receive inadequate training in this area. In these situations, where police have the power to determine who the dominant aggressor is, proper training is critical. Women are often wrongly painted as aggressors both in the justice system and in the public light, where inaccurate data leads to the misconception that women are the aggressors in 50 per cent of cases.
As if women don’t have enough to worry about, Svea Vikander raises another issue through a compelling childhood memory. After being slut shamed as an 11-year old girl, Vikander looks back at her time on Salt Spring Island and one man’s decision to accuse her of shoplifting. It’s just one of many entries Vikander is publishing this month, all detailing personal experiences of sexual harassment and assault.
Want to make a change? Dru Oja Jay is the one to speak to. We’re now three months into the Trudeau era, and the honeymoon will soon come to an end. The liberals have a delicate balancing act ahead of them as they try to keep both the student voters and economic elite on-side. Above all, their priority is to get re-elected in four years. So how should progressives respond to this new government? Find out, and orchestrate your own movement this weekend. Happy reading!
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