ISSUE NO. 021, MONDAY, MARCH 25, 2013, 19 PGS. “Draconion” House Bill To Root Out RCMP “Troublemakers”: MP
Legislation awaiting Senate ewan, told the House addi- debate will root out “trouble- tional powers are required to makers” and “poor perform- deal with personnel issues. ers” in federal policing, says a Conservative MP and vet- “What I am asking, yes or no, eran of the Royal Canadian is whether my colleagues are Mounted Police. going to support the bill to get rid of the poor perform- “There are poor perform- ers in the RCMP,” said Clarke, ers in the RCMP,” said MP MP for Desnethé–Missinip- Rob Clarke. “Having been a pi–Churchill River, Sask. sergeant in the RCMP and having had to administer the The Canadian Police As- RCMP Act and do the inves- sociation has described as tigations on those individ- “extraordinary” the pro- uals, I know the RCMP is visions of C-42, including looking for a tangible, mean- new powers that permit ingful way to get rid of the the RCMP commissioner RCMP troublemakers who to suspend, demote or fire are tarnishing the image of any rank-and-file member the RCMP.” “whose performance in the Commissioner’s opinion is Clarke’s remarks came unsatisfactory” (Sec. 20.2.e); in final House debate on and “recommend the dis- The commissioner’s rulings authority to deal with things Bill C-42, An Act To Amend charge of any Deputy Com- on grievances are considered within the RCMP Act,” said The RCMP Act, that critics missioner for the promotion Wilks, MP for Kootenay-Col- charged will grant a police of economy and efficiency of 32.1 of the Act. umbia, British Columbia. commissioner “Draconian” the force” (Sec. 20.2.j). powers to discipline non- “This bill has been a long time Newfoundland & Labrador unionized members. Bill C-42 also allows man- coming,” said Conservative MP MP Jack Harris said the legis- agers to conduct closed-door David Wilks, a 20-year veteran lation will “create a more The bill passed the Com- hearings on grievances filed of the force. “The RCMP has powerful hierarchy within the mons March 6 on a vote of by employees; and permits been unable to do anything RCMP and give the commis- 187 to 101. dismissal of workplace com- with regard to discipline.” sioner more Draconian pow- plaints deemed to conflict ers than ever.” Clarke, who served 18 years with “the safety or security “The commissioner, and only with the force in Saskatch- of Canada” (Sec. 30.1.3). the commissioner, has the Continued on Pg 2 BLACKLOCK’S REPORTER NO. 021 MAR. 25 2013 2
Continued from Pg 1 A group of RCMP members MP Don Davies told the gaining structure in the have attempted to union- House. “In 2013 I think RCMP with a free collect- “We are going to have a top- ize the force. The Ontario Canadians expect that ive bargaining structure down hierarchy which will Court of Appeals last June when men and women walk that respects norms,” said not inspire confidence but 1 rejected an application to through the workplace Davies, MP for Vancouver will create more of a para- organize the RCMP’s 23,695 door, they do not check Kingsway. military organization,” said employees into a functioning their rights.” Harris, MP for St. John’s union with bargaining rights. East. “This is an anachron- “It is not acceptable that ism when it comes to modern “Just stop and think for a to this day the government STAFF policing in Canada.” moment,” New Democrat has not replaced the bar- Feds Try, Try Again On Cellphone Policy Rules
Federal regulators propose tion will include package “I don’t think consumers “It’s not going to do anyone new rules on wireless ser- bids from license applicants care what is under the hood any good before the next vice providers amid custom- on an “all-or-nothing basis,” in most cases,” Goldberg auction.” er complaints. the department said. Appli- continued. “It’s actually the cations are due June 11. services that ride on top.” The Industry Canada an- The Department of Indus- John Lawford, legal coun- nouncement March 7 came try said in an attempt to “Our government is deliv- sel for the Public Interest the same day that Open promote “choice,” wireless ering on our promise to use Advocacy Centre, expressed Media reported results of companies will be required the upcoming wireless spec- concern that regulators a study identifying Can- to provide roaming capacity trum auctions to promote were “setting the table for adians’ general dissatisfac- to competitors and share four competitors in each the big three providers to tion with cellphone service. cellphone towers; and at region of the country.” said win most of the auction.” least four “players” in every Industry Minister Chris- “People are upset about region can acquire rights in tian Paradis; “Our govern- The Advocacy Centre, along disrespectful customer ser- an upcoming Nov. 19 spec- ment wants to see at least with Consumer Associa- vice,” said Steven Anderson, trum auction. four players in each market.” tion of Canada, the Coun- executive director of Open cil of Senior Citizens, Open Media. “They are upset “What all carriers will agree However, groups contacted Media and other groups, about restrictive contracts on is that more spectrum is by Blacklock’s expressed con- earlier pressed regulators and price gauging. I don’t needed and needed soon,” cern about regulators’ defin- to adhere to the “ministry’s think the Minister of Indus- said Marc Choma, of the ition of “player,” especially clear policy to preserve the try’s announcement are go- Canadian Wireless Tele- given a network agreement spectrum for new wireless ing to address those.” communications Associa- between Bell and Telus entrants.” tion. “Carriers have to keep which allows for the sharing “Our cellphone market is up with the unprecedent- of cell towers. Groups told Blacklock’s they broken and we need bold ed growth in wireless data had not received a formal action to fix it,” Anderson usage by acquiring more “That doesn’t say what a response from the industry added. spectrum.” ‘player’ is,” said Mark Gold- minister. berg, a telecom consultant. Industry Canada said its “Is a player a service provid- “In the future it may do new 700MHz spectrum auc- er? Is it a carrier or a brand?” some good,” said Lawford. KAVEN BAKER-VOAKES Guest Commentary Jamie Nicholls, MP
I Wonder What Became of Dennis Victims and criminals share an intim- I did not want go out in North Park for fear I might meet Dennis. I cut my hair results from the collision of two lives, short, in the hope Dennis would not rec- in which neither are ever exactly the ognize me. same again. When people cast crime as black and white, good versus evil, I am Now I had this intimate link with a man I reminded of all the shades of grey that barely knew, and a question that all crime exist in the middle – and then I think of victims ask: why would he do that? Dennis. Tom Hyland Blacklock He was a skinhead in a “White Power” impact statement so Dennis might “under- t-shirt. stand” what I’d gone through. They said I A pioneer publisher and war correspondent, might even qualify for compensation from confidante of three prime ministers and 1922 Dennis was known to neighbours in the president of the Ottawa Press Gallery, Tom Blacklock North Park district of Victoria, where I I didn’t want their money. I wanted justice. was mourned at his passing in 1934 as “a keen lived in 1997. It was a rough-and-tumble observer blessed with a sense of proportion.” Born in Halton County, Ont. in 1870, he became a frontier neighbourhood. Dennis had a wife and I believe in restorative healing, where vic- editor and first mayor of Weyburn, Sask. in 1903. baby; I had seen them going to the wel- tims and their tormentors reach for some Assigned to Parliament Hill by the Winnipeg Telegram - understanding. Dennis’ skinhead friend en- in 1912 he remained a gallery man for life with lent, and he could get very drunk. I don’t rolled in a program with the John Howard columns published from Victoria to Halifax: “As Tom Society; he renounced white supremacy, Blacklock used to say, ‘That ain’t the way I heard it.’” and was eventually acquitted. I’d just returned to British Columbia BLACKLOCK’S REPORTER PUBLISHES DAILY after spending a year teaching English Dennis didn’t. I wanted him in custody so ONLINE AT BLACKLOCKS.CA WITH A WEEKLY in South Korea, and was at a house party he couldn’t hurt anyone else; I wanted a DIGEST OF NEWS AND SHARP-EYED FEATURES PUBLISHED EACH MONDAY, 50 WEEKS A YEAR. one evening with old friends I’d known judge to order him to wear an electronic in art school. ankle bracelet so police could monitor his movements. I can’t say if restorative jus- Copyright 1395804 Ontario Limited Dennis and another skinhead showed tice would have done Dennis much good. Head Office: up at midnight. He had been drinking. I Afterward I wondered, what brought Den- 409 Third Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 2K6 asked them to leave, and on his way out nis to the point in his life that he was so Editorial: Dennis sucker punched me in the head. hateful, so angry, he would shave his head 350-N Centre Block, House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A6 It was sudden, explosive. I was bleeding and wear a “White Power” t-shirt and look HST no. 87055 5372 and in shock. He wore a spiked ring that for someone to hurt? left a scar by my eye. Tom Korski, Editor Of course my fear is gone, sixteen years 613-992-4511 [email protected] Police arrived. I gave them my state- later. But this remains a vivid memory. To ment. Later there was an assault charge, this day I tend to be more alert than other Holly Doan, Features Editor 613-422-6823 a trial and conviction. The scar from people in urban environments. I also have [email protected] a better understanding of victims of such only indelible mark. crimes. And I know crime is a wicked prob- EDITORIAL BOARD: lem more complex than political rhetoric, Alex Binkley 613-992-4511 I became fearful. I was 25 but had never and requires multi-faced solutions. [email protected] experienced such jarring violence: I’d Kaven Baker-Voakes grown up in a peaceful family in the St. I often wonder what became of Dennis. 613-992-4511 Lazare-Hudson area of Quebec, a tran- [email protected] (Editor’s note: the author is New Democrat Mark Bourrie 613-992-4511 that I’d seen such rage. MP for Vaudreuil-Soulanges, Que.) [email protected] BLACKLOCK’S REPORTER NO. 021 MAR. 25 2013 4
An Odd Phone THIEVES TARGETED IN BILL Regulation A private bill proposing to “It will be dangerous to rely make it a felony to tamper on Kijiji and other third-party area of Qikiqtani Region of Baf- with cellphone serial num- resellers because the cell- bers has been introduced in phone companies are work- the House of Commons. ing to make sure they can’t re- - activate those stolen phones,” peated requests for an inter- Bill C-482, An Act To Amend said Sullivan; “It’s a ‘buyer view. And his department told The Criminal Code (telecom- beware’ kind of issue…People Blacklock’s the old regulation munication device identi- will learn that you don’t buy “is no longer required,” but fier), is described as a safety your cellphone from some- failed to explain why. measure by its sponsor, New one you don’t know.” Cabinet has quietly repealed a Democrat MP Mike Sulli- Pearson-era order forbidding “This is extraordinary,” said van. new mining exploration in a Bevington. “If Cabinet makes a decision affecting public “It would prevent the re- The minister responsible lands, Cabinet must stand up activation of stolen cell- would not say why, and his and explain itself.” phones and so remove the department could not explain incentive to mug people for who requested withdrawal of Tom Paddon, president and their cellphones,” said Sul- the 48-year old regulation. livan, MP for York South- Corp., did not reply to an Weston, Ont. “Why would they repeal that interview request. order now?” said Dennis Bev- “A police superintendent in ington, New Democrat MP The company originally my riding told me 80 percent for Western Arctic. “Public af- planned development of an of street crime involves the fairs require public answers.” open-pit mine with road ser- theft of cellphones and other vice and a 149-km railway to devices,” Sullivan said. “This The Canadian Wireless Tele- Northern Development Min- is a smart solution because, communications Association, ister Bernard Valcourt re- in theory, it will dry up the which is currently developing pealed the order that banned The Department of Northern market.” a database to track lost cell- new mining stakes in a two- Development approved the phones, told Blacklock’s that mile strip of land from an iron project last Dec. 3, it what the The legislation states any its database initially will not ore mine site to the coast of company described as “the person who “alters a telecom- be available to the public. right-of-way, as well as lands every planned above the Arc- interferes with its operation “It’s something we are look- set aside for construction of tic Circle.” or removes it from a telecom- ing forward to in the future,” dock and airstrip facilities. munications device is guilty said Ashlee Smith, communi- However, in subsequent fil- of an indictable offence and cations manager. “That’s The order was passed by ings with Nunavut regulators, liable to imprisonment for something we are looking at Prime Minister Lester Pear- the mining corporation said a term not exceeding five developing.” son’s cabinet June 23, 1965. it would defer construction years.” It banned “nuisance stakings of the railway, and a deep-sea The national database will be that may thwart the construc- port, and scale back the size Sullivan dismissed sugges- tion of facilities,” according to of its mining operation from tions the bill would harm the industry group said. archival records. 18 million tonnes a year to 3.5 cellphone resale market, but million tonnes. acknowledged that vendors Construction of a $4 billion could deactivate phones after iron mine in the Mary River STAFF sale. KAVEN BAKER-VOAKES BLACKLOCK’S REPORTER NO. 021 MAR. 25 2013 5
Towns Shortlisted For Nuclear Dumpsite
Six towns and a Prairie First economies; they want to keep Nations reserve are front- their young people in the runners for a multi-billion community, rather than have dollar bedrock storage vault them go away to school and for spent nuclear fuel rods never come back. from the country’s power re- actors, industry sources tell “And a lot of these towns Blacklock’s. have people with experi- ence in mining,” Krizanc The Saskatchewan towns of added. “Elliot Lake and the Pinehouse, Creighten and the towns in northern Saskatch- English River First Nation; ewan are close to old uran- and northern Ontario com- ium mines.” munities of Ear Falls, Ignace, Schreiber and Hornepayne The Nuclear Waste Man- have the edge in the search agement Organization will for a nuclear waste storage spend 7 to 10 years identify- facility, worth between $16 ing a site, with an additional and $24 billion. five-year environmental as- sessment and regulatory ap- The communities, all eco- proval, and a further decade nomically depressed, have for actual construction of agreed to preliminary assess- the nation’s permanent fuel ments of local geology and rod dump. infrastructure. All are located on the Canadian Shield – a “We expect the site to open requirement for the con- in about 2035 and to be struction of a nuclear waste operational for at least forty site deep underground in years,” Krizanc said. “If new granite bedrock. nuclear plants are built, you can add to that. The site The northern Ontario towns of Lake Huron— Arran- tion for the safe disposal of would stop operating about of White River, Wawa, Blind Elderslie, Saugeen Shores, highly radioactive fuel rods, 20 years after the closure of River, Elliot Lake, North Brockton, Huron-Kinloss will take years to complete. the last new reactors. Shore and Spanish have also and South Bruce – also ex- agreed to listen to the pro- pressed an interest in ac- “A lot of these commun- “After that, we are looking at posal from the Nuclear Waste cepting the nation’s nuclear ities are resource towns 150 years of monitoring,” he Management Organization. waste. wanting to smooth out the added. boom-and-bust cycles,” said In southern Ontario, six The organization said selec- spokesperson Michael Kri- communities near the shore tion of sites, and prepara- zanc. “They want stable Continued on Pg 6 BLACKLOCK’S REPORTER NO. 021 MAR. 25 2013 6
Continued From Pg 5 bedrock in southwestern parts of reactor systems ground in the dense lime- Ontario. – especially in the water stone of the Cobourg He said the agency has treatment process -- are Formation, 450-million- already investigated safe It will be located next to among the items classified year-old rock laid down in transport of the spent fuel OPG’s Western Manage- as intermediate waste. the Ordovician period of rods. In one simulated ment Waste Facility at the geologic time. Parliament catastrophe, nuclear waste Bruce Nuclear Power Plant Low-radiation material is Hill’s buildings and the was placed in a train and near Kincardine, Ontario, incinerated at the Bruce Darlington Nuclear Power put through a 90-mph s p o k e s m a n K e v i n O r r plant to reduce its volume. Plant are built on the same crash that left the fuel rods told Blacklock’s. About half of the materi- rock formation. intact. al that would go into the The facility would man- underground storage fa- A 6.5 metre elevator shaft “If there is going to be an age about 200,000 cubic cility is already stored on would connect the surface accident there is not going metres of low and inter- the surface near the Bruce to series of side tunnels to be a release of radia- mediate-radiation nuclear plant in specially-engin- where the waste would be tion,” Krizanc said. waste. eered structures. stored. Once the facility is full, the shafts would be Meanwhile, Ontario Power Work gloves, paper and The public process is about flooded in concrete, Orr Generation is close to other refuse from routine to close and hearings will said. building a Deep Geologic clean-ups and maintenance begin in Kincardine this Repository (DGR) for the of nuclear power plants is a fall. long-term management of large part of the low-radi- low and intermediate level ation waste. Filters, resins The storage facility would nuclear waste in limestone and other often-changed be built 2,230 feet below MARK BOURRIE