justice

Wednesday June 14, 2023

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday June 14, 2023

Trump’s Latest Indictment: A Calculated Campaign Strategy or a Desperate Gamble?

March 22, 2023

As former President Donald Trump faces indictment in a classified-documents case, the political implications for the 2024 White House race are at the forefront of discussions. While some analysts argue that this indictment could potentially boost Trump’s standing in the Republican primary, there is a prevailing belief that it will ultimately prove detrimental to his chances in a general election matchup against President Joe Biden.

August 10, 2022

In the Republican primary, Trump’s campaign is expected to seize upon the indictment as an opportunity to rally his base and play into his well-established role as a victim of perceived political persecution. The party’s messaging is likely to centre around the notion that the charges are a grave abuse of power by Biden’s Justice Department, emphasizing a double standard wherein Biden himself has not faced similar consequences for his own document-related issues. Trump’s challengers in the primary, then, will be left to make arguments about electability while condemning the prosecution itself. This strategy, combined with Trump’s adeptness at playing grievance politics, could help solidify his support base and maintain his lead in the polls.

The New Yorker: The Trump Indictment Speaks For itself  

July 23, 2022

However, when it comes to the general election, the dynamics change. Independent voters, who play a crucial role in deciding the outcome, are likely to view the indictment as a serious vulnerability for Trump. The charges of espionage carry significant weight and raise concerns about national security and the integrity of the presidency. Trump’s all-caps responses and dismissive rhetoric may further alienate these swing voters who seek a more measured and responsible leadership style.

The current indictment adds to a growing list of legal troubles that Trump has faced. While some argue that these indictments fuel his narrative as a political outsider fighting against the establishment, there is a point at which the accumulation of legal challenges becomes a liability rather than a badge of honour. The general public may question the pattern of behaviour exhibited by a candidate who continuously finds themselves entangled in legal battles, raising doubts about their judgment and trustworthiness.

September 27, 2019

Furthermore, the details of the indictment suggest that Trump’s motivations for retaining the classified documents go beyond mere trophies. The incidents described in the indictment reveal his desire to use the documents as political leverage against perceived enemies, such as General Mark Milley and President Joe Biden. This pattern aligns with Trump’s history of seeking personal and political advantage, often taking risks without fully considering the consequences or formulating a coherent plan. The indictment exposes a scheme to cheat the system, mirroring previous instances like the Ukraine extortion scandal and the attempt to overturn the 2020 election results.

While Trump’s base may rally around him, the broader electorate is unlikely to overlook the seriousness of the charges and the potential implications for national security. The constant pursuit of personal gain at the expense of the country’s interests raises concerns about the stability and integrity of a Trump presidency.

Opinion: What Was Trump’s Motive for Keeping Documents?  

July 22, 2016

As the legal process unfolds, it is essential for the media and the public to resist minimizing the gravity of the charges against Trump. The “trophies” narrative, propagated by some right-wing pundits, attempts to downplay the deliberate nature of his actions. It is crucial to recognize that Trump’s intentions went beyond collecting mementos; he sought to exploit the documents for personal and political gain.

In conclusion, while Trump’s latest indictment may provide short-term advantages within the Republican primary, the long-term implications for a general election contest against President Biden are likely to be detrimental. The seriousness of the charges, combined with Trump’s past legal challenges and his approach to wielding power for personal advantage, present significant hurdles that are difficult to overcome in the broader electorate. As the legal proceedings unfold, it is important to maintain a balanced perspective and scrutinize the true motivations and implications of Trump’s actions. (AI)

Tuesday August 23, 2022

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday August 23, 2022

Michelle O’Bonsawin becomes 1st Indigenous person nominated to Supreme Court of Canada

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Friday his nomination of Michelle O’Bonsawin to the Supreme Court of Canada.

June 3, 2015

She will become the first Indigenous person to serve on Canada’s highest court.

O’Bonsawin is Abenaki from Odanak. She is Franco-Ontarian and fluently bilingual, according to a news release announcing the nomination.

She has served as a judge on the Ontario Superior Court of Justice since 2017. O’Bonsawin also holds a PhD in law from the University of Ottawa.

In her application questionnaire, made available by the Department of Justice, O’Bonsawin described how her experience as an Indigenous person in Canada has shaped her life and legal career.

“I believe my experience as a francophone First Nations woman, a parent, a lawyer, a scholar and a judge provide me with the lived understanding and insight into Canada’s diversity because I, and my life experience, are part of that diversity,” she said.

Thursday August 12, 2021

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday August 12, 2021

Canada Considers Countering Winter Games and Hostage Diplomacy

Canada is being urged by legal and international experts to apply diplomatic pressure on both China and the United States to secure the release of Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, following Spavor’s 11-year prison sentence by a Chinese court.

December 8, 2020

Spavor, an entrepreneur, was detained in China in December 2018 along with Kovrig on allegations of state spying, charges widely seen as retaliation for the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver in connection with a U.S. extradition request. Meng’s formal extradition hearing began on Wednesday in British Columbia.

Since their arrest, Canada has been pushing for the release of Spavor and Kovrig. Both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneau condemned Spavor’s sentence on Wednesday.

“This decision was made after a process that lack both fairness and transparency including a trial that did not satisfy the minimum standards required by international law,” Garneau said at a press conference, adding Canada was is ‘intense’ discussions with both Chinese and U.S. officials to free both Spavor and Kovrig, who is still awaiting trial in China.

February 12, 2021

Trudeau, in a statement, called the sentence unacceptable and unjust.

“For Mr. Spavor, as well as for Michael Kovrig who has also been arbitrarily detained, our top priority remains securing their immediate release. We will continue working around the clock to bring them home as soon as possible,” he said.

Since the arrests in 2018, Canada has decried what it calls “hostage diplomacy” and in February launched the ‘Declaration Against Arbitrary Detention in State-to-State Relations,’ which has now been endorsed by 66 countries.

Meanwhile, the Conservative Party leader has warned that it may soon be too dangerous for Canadians to travel to China for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. (CTV) 

December 12, 2018

Speaking at a news conference on Ontario on Tuesday, leader Erin O’Toole said: “We are approaching a point where it won’t be safe for Canadians, including Olympic athletes, to travel to China.”

Diplomats from dozens of countries gathered at Canada’s embassy in Beijing on Wednesday to hear the Spavor verdict. The fate of a fellow Canadian, former diplomat Michael Kovrig, remains unclear.

O’Toole was speaking after a court rejected the appeal of a third Canadian, Robert Schellenberg, whose prison term in a drug case was abruptly increased to death following Meng’s arrest.

March 24, 2008

Asked about the winter Games, O’Toole said: “Yes Canada should be considering a boycott.

“And I’ve said we’re going to be watching the decision very closely. Beijing has to know that the world is watching the genocide taking place against the Uyghurs. They’ve watched what’s been happening in Hong Kong and the situation with Mr Schellenberg, Mr Spavor and Mr Kovrig.”

He said Canada would have to think “long and hard on whether we reward a country like that with the Games”. (The Guardian) 

 

Wednesday June 16, 2021

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday June 16, 2021

Ford government pushes through controversial election spending bill with notwithstanding clause

The government of Premier Doug Ford has pushed a controversial bill through the Ontario legislature limiting third-party election advertising by employing a rarely used legislative power.

June 11, 2021

Bill 307, which used the notwithstanding clause to reintroduce parts of a law struck down by a judge last week, passed Monday by a margin of 63 votes to 47.

The clause allows legislatures to override portions of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms for a five-year term.

A judge found it was unconstitutional for the government to double the restricted pre-election spending period for third-party advertisements to 12 months before an election call.

The Progressive Conservative government argued the extended restriction was necessary to protect elections from outside influence.

The bill passed Monday afternoon after a marathon weekend debate in which opposition politicians argued the government was trying to silence criticism ahead of next June’s provincial election.

“It’s obviously a move from a man who’s desperate to cling to power,” said NDP Leader Andrea Horwath.

December 9, 2010

The New Democrats spent the day trying to drag out the process by introducing a variety of motions on pandemic-related issues they argued should be the focus of the sitting. Ford said earlier on Monday that he wouldn’t be swayed.

“We’re fighting for democracy,” Ford said at Queen’s Park. “I’ll work all day, all night to protect the people.”

Last week, Ontario Superior Court Justice Edward Morgan found it was unconstitutional for the Progressive Conservative government to double the restricted pre-election spending period for third-party advertisements to 12 months before an election call.

A bill that took effect this spring had stretched the restricted spending period from six months to one year before an election is called, but kept the spending limit of $600,000 the same.

Morgan found that the government didn’t provide an explanation for doubling the limit, and his decision meant sections of the law involved in the court challenge were no longer in effect.  (CBC) 

 

Friday June 11, 2021

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday June 11, 2021

The Canadian Charter’s notwithstanding clause is increasingly indefensible

It isn’t happening in Quebec, but in Ontario, so there will be more of a fuss than would otherwise be the case.

September 14, 2018

But there will be less of a fuss than the last time the Doug Ford government threatened to use the notwithstanding clause to override constitutionally guaranteed rights. The next time it happens, there will be less still. And there will be a next time, and a next time after that, and another, and another – precisely because the political costs of doing so diminish with each use.

This is how the clause is being normalized. This is how, in consequence, the Charter of Rights is being eviscerated. It is already more or less a dead letter in Quebec, where the override has been invoked over the years by governments of every party. Once upon a time it might have caused something of a stir, at least outside the province, as when Robert Bourassa used it to uphold the ban on English-language signs in 1988.

September 21, 2019

But having paid no discernible price for invoking the clause to protect Bill 21, legislation that effectively bars the hiring of religious minorities across much of the public service, Quebec’s CAQ government was quick to do the same with regard to Bill 96, its new and harsher language law. A rights “guarantee” that cannot protect minorities from overt harassment and discrimination – a guarantee that applies only as when the government of the day decides it should – is not much of a guarantee at all.

July 28, 2018

And now it is happening elsewhere. Mr. Ford’s first attempt to use the clause, over a 2018 bill that would have cut the size of Toronto city council in half – in the middle of a municipal election – may have collapsed in confusion, but now the Premier is back for another try. This time the casus belli is Bill 254, legislation passed earlier this year that would, among other things, double the length of time before an election campaign during which third-party advocacy groups would be subject to spending limits.

As before, the Premier has supposedly been provoked to action by a judge’s ruling, overturning the legislation on Charter grounds. But as before this is not really the issue. The government could have appealed either ruling to a higher court, and even had it lost there, it could have rewritten either bill in ways that addressed its purported intent, without unduly limiting Charter rights. (Globe & Mail)