OC Transpo rejects atheist bus ads
"The “atheist bus” campaign was momentarily bound for Ottawa, but OC
Transpo has ruled out allowing provocative advertisements bearing a
no-god message.The Toronto-based Freethought Association of Canada has sparked
controversy across the country after launching an ad campaign in
January with a pro-atheism theme. The message, which appears in hot red
and pink lettering, boldly declares: “THERE’S PROBABLY NO GOD. NOW STOP
WORRYING AND ENJOY YOUR LIFE.”Authorities in Toronto and Calgary
have agreed to run the ads on buses and at other sites in their transit
networks. Halifax was the first city to reject the group’s request to
run the ads, and now Ottawa’s transit corporation – citing regulations
that prohibit “offensive” religious advertising – has turned down the
advertisements, as well.
3 Officers charched with negligence causing death
"Two Akwesasne Mohawk Police officers have been charged after a
three-month long investigation into a fatal collision on Cornwall
Island in November, which killed an elderly couple from upstate New
York and a 21-year-old man from St. Jean sur Richelieu, Que., who was
being pursued by police as a suspected cigarette smuggler.Const.
Mike Biron was charged with criminal negligence causing death and
dangerous driving causing death, and Sgt. Kenneth Chaussi was charged
with criminal negligence causing death.
Protest begin to mount, ahead of Beijing
Protesters in the capital used the eve of the official start to the
Beijing Olympics to launch more protests against China's human-rights
record Thursday.
About 100 demonstrators from several groups, along with a number of
politicians, fanned out across the street from the Chinese embassy in
Ottawa, waving flags and hoisting placards.
It was the second time in as many days that protesters voiced
concerns about human rights in China, along with a wide range of other
issues, including Chinese rule over Tibet, the communist country's
stand on Taiwan, and China's involvement in Darfur.
A Gatineau police officer shot an unarmed man three times, killing him in broad daylight.
According to the victim's family, the police officer beat David
LeClair, 35, with his billy club, pepper sprayed him and then shot him
from four feet away.
Gatineau police referred calls to the Surete du Quebec, who
were saying little yesterday. They did confirm they are investigating
the officer's conduct and will forward the file to the Crown's office.
Couillard affair raises questions about free travel by MPs, partners
There may be collateral damage for federal politicians in the Julie
Couillard affair, as her liaison with former foreign minister Maxime
Bernier draws public attention to one of the best kept secrets in
Parliament - how MPs use $26 million worth of free airline travel each
year.
The fact that Bernier had designated Couillard as his
significant other in the Commons travel scheme came to light as part of
the early stories that also disclosed her past involvement with outlaw
bikers and an alleged Mafia figure in Montreal.
But the lid
remains tight on exactly where MPs and those they sponsor go on their
free flights, meaning taxpayers may never know if Couillard used her
privileges for quick hops to the national capital or longer-haul
destinations.
B.C. may fight to keep Insite legal
B.C. Health Minister George Abbott said Monday the province may
intervene in a court case that could determine the future of
Vancouver’s supervised injected site.
Abbott said he is disappointed by the federal government’s
decision to appeal a B.C. court ruling that would let the Insite
facility stay open indefinitely.
“We
have not made a decision [about intervening in the appeal] yet,” he
said. “I’ve had a couple of brief discussions with the attorney-general
and we need to have more before we reach some conclusion on whether
it’s valuable or appropriate for us to apply [for intervenor status].”
The legal status of the injection site is critical for B.C., he said.
“It is a very important case involving a health facility we
believe is important in the continuum of care for people with
addictions and for people with mental illness.”
Ottawa Riders Bare it at 4th Annual World Naked Bike Ride
Ottawa area cyclists will be gathering on Saturday, June 7th to protest
oil dependency and promote human-powered vehicles by participating in
the 4th annual World Naked Bike Ride. Many cyclists will be naked to
protest the indecent exposure of people and the planet to cars and the
pollution they create. The ride will begin at 3pm from Confederation
Park, with body painting and other preparations starting at 2pm. The
World Naked Bike Ride is an international event with tens of thousands
of people in 70 cities world-wide.
Ottawa police, to police themselves..can anything possibly go wrong?
In a significant and controversial change, senior officers in the
Ottawa police will now prosecute and judge their colleagues who run
afoul of the rules and regulations that govern the force.
According
to Chief Vern White, the department will no longer appoint former
police officers from other jurisdictions as hearing officers during
disciplinary proceedings against Ottawa officers facing charges under
the province's Police Services Act.
That change, however, does
not impress two senior Ottawa laywers who say this is an "ill-
conceived" plan that will further erode public confidence in the
complaints system and, ultimately, the force.
Net neutrality rally organizers hint at more action
After an inauspicious start to the day, the net neutrality rally
turned out to be a success in the eyes of organizers and protestors.
About 300 showed up (only about 30 were employees of rally organizer
Teksavvy) despite some organizational problems, which included the
event being rescheduled three times.
Several speakers made reference to the rally being "the first step,"
promising more public action. A follow-up rally in Toronto this summer
- ahead of a CRTC ruling on traffic throttling due in the fall - looks
very likely, according to the scuttlebutt.
Demonstrators chant for Tibet on Parliament Hill
Tibetans and non-Tibetans united in a peaceful rally on Parliament
Hill Thursday to protest the recent crackdown by Chinese authorities on
anti-Chinese demonstrators in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa.
Ottawa Police estimated 750 demonstrators gathered to support Tibet and to demand China pull its military from the region.
From
the steps in front of the peace tower, hoarse cries lead the chants of
those gathered: "Human rights for Tibet," "Tibet is not a part of
China," and "Independence for Tibet."
Many at the rally had just
arrived in Ottawa, having taken one of 13 overnight buses from Toronto
booked through the Joint Action Committee that coordinated the event.
"Everyone was pumped," is how organizer Bhutila Karpoche described the
atmosphere on the buses from Toronto.