This is a bit harsh but does make a good point. For all the press releases the Conservatives have been free spending Big Government types — and the Paul Martin Liberals were the reverse. We'll see what happens but the AG report does not bode well …
Continue readingAuthor: James C Morton
Morton's Musings: A Northern Tragedy
Iqaluit woman was going to leave husband, take kids, before killings: sisterBy Chris Purdy, The Canadian PressVivian Sula Enuaraq’s family says the Iqaluit woman had finally had enough.The 29-year-old had thought about leaving her husband several times…
Continue readingMorton's Musings: Fire and Ice
Some say the world will end in fire,Some say in ice.From what I've tasted of desireI hold with those who favor fire.But if it had to perish twice,I think I know enough of hateTo say that for destruction iceIs also greatAnd would suffice. Robert Frost
Continue readingMorton's Musings: Reasons of trial judges
R. v. O'Brien, 2011 SCC 29, released about 45 minutes ago, yet again affirms the principle that trial judges are not required to do more in reasons than explain how they came to their decision. There is no need to itemize every conceivable issue, a…
Continue readingMorton's Musings: Conservatives misled Parliament over G8 costs: Auditor General
So much for small government and careful spending:http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1005376STEVE RUSSELL/TORONTO STARLes Whittington and Bruce Campion-SmithOttawa BureauOTTAWA—Stephen Harper’s government misled Parliament and skir…
Continue readingMorton's Musings: Conditional sentences should be considered whenever legally possible
R v Dormevil (unreported OCJ June 8, per Green) is a careful decision that emphasizes conditional sentences should be considered whenever their conditions precedent are met. The case also stands for the proposition that incarceration should be used wit…
Continue readingMorton's Musings: El Manisero (The Peanut Vendor) – Havana Casino Orchestra -1930
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sj7NfrrnaKE
Don Azpiazu introduced authentic Cuban dance music to North American audiences when his Havana Casino Orchestra travelled to New York to cut EL MANISERO “The Peanut Vendor” for Victor Records in 1930.
Morton's Musings: In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on
Robert Frost
Continue readingMorton's Musings: Globalive wins foreign ownership battle — Cellphone market opens up?
A significant win for the Federal Government. As readers may recall I was surprised the Federal Court was prepared to second guess Cabinet. So far the decision is unavailable but I will summarize and post as soon as I have the reasons:
http://bit.ly/i…
Continue readingMorton's Musings: Purposes of sentencing
For most of the last century criminal sentencing in the Canada was based on deterrence. Certainly reference to denunciation (society’s expression of revulsion at the crime) and rehabilitation was made but the concept was to deter both this convict and …
Continue readingMorton's Musings: Counsel not to appear on their own affidavits
Speciale v. Giardino 2010 ONSC 101 is a good source for the principle that counsel ought not to appear as counsel where they have given evidence by way of affidavit. This is a very basic principle and yet it is often overlooked by (or…
Continue readingMorton's Musings: Family found dead in Iqaluit
Douglas Quan, Postmedia News: Wednesday, June 8, 2011 12:47 PMAn RCMP investigator examines the area in Iqaluit’s cemetery where the body of a man was found alongside a shotgun June 7, 2011. Police say the man’s death is connected with three other deat…
Continue readingMorton's Musings: ‘Major’ gas leak closes 11 blocks of Yonge Street south of Steeles Ave.
Eleven blocks of Yonge St. have been closed due to what Toronto Fire is calling a "major gas leak."
Pedestrians are being moved from the area and Yonge St. is closed to road traffic from Cummer Ave. to Steeles Ave. At least one building has …
Continue readingMorton's Musings: Application of the principles from W.(D.)
R. v. Geddes, 2011 MBCA 44 deals with the application of R. v. W.(D.), [1991] 1 S.C.R. 742. In theory the case sets out a simple test: “First, if you believe the evidence of the accused, obviously you must acquit. …
Continue readingMorton's Musings: Postal strike hits Calgary, Edmonton
Postal workers in Calgary and Edmonton took their turn Tuesday night joining in the rotating job action across the country to pressure Canada Post to meet the union’s contract demands.
Continue readingMorton's Musings: Love in a time of torture
A young man's account of sadistic torture in a Syrian secret prison, and how a girl's note helped him through his pain.http://bit.ly/lGfSfx
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