Feature

CN ON: Column: Why Hasn't Mayor Sued The Star?

Thu, 23 May 2013 07:00:00 GMT
Toronto Sun, 23 May 2013 - The most puzzling thing about the video purporting to show Rob Ford smoking crack and the Toronto Star's coverage thereof is Ford's apparent reticence in suing the Star for defamation. The Star coverage has Ford cavorting with criminals and smoking crack. It's hard to imagine a more serious defamation of our law and order mayor. Suing the Star should be an easy task. If sued, the Star would have the onus of establishing one of two defences: truth or responsible communication. Truth would be a tough defence to pursue without the video and a thorough forensic analysis of it. While the Star might get its hands on the video in the future, it currently doesn't have the video and can't establish its authenticity. It's doubtful anybody would be willing to testify under oath they supplied drugs to Ford or were present when Ford smoked crack.

CN MB: Editorial: A Hemispheric View Of Pot Law

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:00:00 GMT
Winnipeg Free Press, 22 May 2013 - The Organization of American States, a hemispheric group to which Canada and the United States belong, issued a report after a year of careful study that raises legalization of marijuana as a way to battle the high social and financial cost of prohibition. Canada should welcome the OAS's call to recognize pot as a drug to be regulated, like alcohol. The report's analysis says that after decades of expensive law enforcement, it is not clear what works in battling the illegal drug trade and the crime, violence and social and health toll of addictions. The cultivation and production of illegal drugs is highest in South and Central American countries, which suffer greater social and security harm. In Canada and the United States, drug use and abuse is higher, as are the health costs.

CN ON: A Growing Problem

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:00:00 GMT
The Tribune, 22 May 2013 - After four years spent investigating marijuana grow operations, not much surprises Luigi Greco anymore. "There's no rhyme or reason," said Greco, a detective sergeant with the Niagara Regional Police. "They can pop up in small crescents, on major streets, in apartment buildings. Whoever has the desire to do it and wherever they have the opportunity, they do it."

CN ON: Niagara's Growing Problem

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:00:00 GMT
The Niagara Falls Review, 22 May 2013 - After four years spent investigating marijuana grow operations, not much surprises Luigi Greco anymore. "There's no rhyme or reason," said Greco, a detective sergeant with the Niagara Regional Police. "They can pop up in small crescents, on major streets, in apartment buildings. Whoever has the desire to do it and wherever they have the opportunity, they do it."

CN BC: Medical Pot Grows OK Says RDCK

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:00:00 GMT
Nelson Star, 22 May 2013 - Growing medical marijuana is fine, the Regional District of Central Kootenay says, so long as it's on agricultural land. The board passed a resolution Thursday confirming medical pot operations are allowed in areas zoned agricultural or that fall within the agricultural land reserve.

CN BC: Drug Users Sue Over Needle Exchange Ban

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:00:00 GMT
Globe and Mail, 22 May 2013 - Three injection drug users filed a lawsuit Tuesday over an Abbotsford, B.C., bylaw that has banned harm-reduction services such as clean needle exchanges for the past eight years, arguing the prohibition violates their charter rights and needlessly puts them at risk. The lawsuit comes as councillors in the Fraser Valley community study the future of the bylaw, which health officials say is preventing them from providing harm reduction services in an area with some of the province's highest rates of overdoses and infections of HIV and hepatitis C.

CN ON: Civic Leaders Urge Toronto Mayor Rob Ford To Speak Up On Drug

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:00:00 GMT
Globe and Mail, 22 May 2013 - Civic leaders are adding to a chorus of calls on Toronto Mayor Rob Ford to clear the air about allegations of drug use amid growing concern that the scandal has derailed council's business of governing. Mr. Ford kept his silence once again on Tuesday, brushing off swarms of reporters clamouring for a more substantive answer to allegations that he was filmed apparently smoking crack cocaine - claims he swatted aside as "ridiculous" last week.

Canada: Editorial: The Rob Ford Spectacle Is Incredible And Outrageous

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:00:00 GMT
Globe and Mail, 22 May 2013 - Canadians trust their politicians to do the right thing, even if they do the wrong thing. They trust them to have honour, and to respect the honour of their office. The time for Toronto Mayor Rob Ford to address allegations that he was captured on videotape smoking crack in the presence of a drug dealer was last Friday, when the allegations emerged, or Tuesday at the latest. The moment passed him by. And now those who have influence on him need to persuade him to speak the truth or go.

CN NS: OPED: HMCS Toronto's Mission Misunderstood

Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:00 GMT
Chronicle Herald, 21 May 2013 - There are some columnists, correspondents and commentators I call RAVEs - reporters against virtually everything - who believe that Canada's engagement in international operations is a waste of tax dollars. Operations such as the RCN's participation in the 28-nation Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), they say, are unnecessary and expensive. Canada's current contribution to the CMF, named Operation Artemis, is Halifax-based frigate HMCS Toronto. Since March 29, the ship has made three major drug busts, totalling almost 1,000 kilograms of heroin, in an area of the world internationally recognized as one where drug revenues contribute to terrorism.