Although I have written countless posts about the abrogation of charter rights and myriad instances of police brutality that occured in Toronto during the infamous G20 weekend in 2010, the story never seems to be over. This past week saw one officer acquitted in the assault of Dorian Barton; Glenn
Continue readingTag: g20 abuse of charter rights
Politics and its Discontents: The Insular World Of The Police Mentality
I have written several posts in this blog about institutions and their many shortcomings, shortcomings that seem directly proportional to their age. The longer one exists, the more prone an organization seems to becoming increasingly insular, self-referential, and self-reverential. One of the institutions most frequently targeted here is law enforcement.
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: To Be Fair To G20 Cop Sgt. Mark Charlebois
When I was young, our local radio station used to carry the syndication of Paul Harvey’s nightly news program. Every so often, the esteemed newsman would read an item attesting either to the extreme folly or the extreme idiocy of humanity, after which he would let out a sound that
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Apparently, Talk Of Charter Rights Is Just Nonsense
“Guys are talking nonsense and he got nonsense back.” – Sgt. Mark Charlebois in defense of his denial of Paul Figueiras’s Charter Rights during Toronto 2010 G20 Summit. Unfortunately, Sgt. Charlebois is not the only one who feels that our Charter Rights are a risible matter. As reported in today’s
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Chief Bill Blair Dodges Another Bullet
The Toronto Star reports the following: The province’s police complaints watchdog has recommended 31 officers be charged with misconduct during the G20 summit, two of them in senior positions, Toronto police said Wednesday. The good chief must be wearing his kevlar vest 24/7, judging by his apparent immunity from any
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Star Reader’s Thoughts On G20 Justice
As a reader of various progressive bloggers, I know that the thirst for justice and accountability burns strongly in Canada. The only problem, of course, is that this passion seems singularly absent in those who occupy positions of authority, be they our elected ‘representatives’, heads of various organizations, and, of
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: He’s Just Another Politician
Despite the ongoing and very critical coverage of Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair and his myriad leadership failures at the 2010 G20 Summit in Toronto, the truculent top cop refuses to both apologize and resign. The most withering criticism I can think to make is that Blair is just another
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Christopher Hume on the G20
With a broad range of targets in his column today, including Dalton McGuinty, Harper, Tony Clement and Julian Fantino as additional architects of the 20120 G20 debacle in Toronto, the Star’s Christopher joins in the chorus of those calling for the resignation of Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair. Of course,
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Deny, Deny. Deny
In the strange parallel world inhabited by Toronto Police chief Bill Blair, that seems to be the rule governing administrative oversight. When confronted with an authoritative and damning report on the behaviour of your officers, both frontline and senior, attempt to deal with its implications by refusing to apologize for
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Senior Toronto Officers Facing Charges
The Star reports the following: About five high-ranking Toronto police officers were informed last week they will face misconduct charges for their actions during the G20 summit, the Star has learned. The CBC is reporting 28 front line officers have been charged with misconduct — including unlawful arrest and excessive
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Stating The Obvious
While this report from The Office of the Independent Police Review may afford some satisfaction for confirming the obvious, the fact that there were no consequences to the police and Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair for being key parts of this orchestrated violation of our Charter Rights renders it pretty
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Little More G20 Justice
In one of the more despicable acts of police brutality during the G20 Summit in Toronto in June of 2010, a paraplegic man, Gabriel Jacobs, was “dragged” from his motorized wheelchair, thrown into the back of a police cruiser and left on the floor of a temporary G20 detention centre
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Lawyer Sues Police For Unlawful G20 Arrest
In a world where injustice seems to prevail, I suspect we have to be content with the small victories. Nicholas Wright looks like he is well on his way to achieving one. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: G20 Toronto Police Not Paid for Overtime?
Perhaps next time they will be more selective about the number of law-abiding citizens against whom they wield their batons and arrest. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Self-Serving Rhetoric From The Toronto Police
As one who strives to be a critical thinker, I am loathe to make absolutist or ill-informed statements and assertions, even as I admit to frequently falling short of the mark. Nonetheless, after the debacle of the G20 Summit of June 2010 held in Toronto, I find myself frequently dubious
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: More On Toronto G20 Incarceration Conditions
As human beings, there is really no way that we can dispute our deeply-flawed natures. Overlooking the terrible depths to which we can sink, the unspeakable cruelties each of us is capable of, and seeking to justify or rationalize away those shortcomi…
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Toronto G20 and the Vindication of Michael Puddy
Kafkaesque is a term loosely and regularly bandied about, usually denoting a process whereby an innocent person is subjected to unfathomable persecution/arrest. It seems an apt word to describe what Michael Puddy endured in Toronto during the G20 prot…
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: When Police Chiefs Go Rogue
In a frightening, bald, and very public display of how much of a politician he has become, Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair has announced that he is no longer taking direction from the Police Services Board, as required by law, but is instead trying to …
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Sometimes You Just Have To Hold Your Nose
I always try to be completely honest in everything that I write for this blog. If I see reason for praise, I acknowledge it, sadly a rare occurrence. Most commonly I am extremely critical of the issues and people that I write about. One of most freq…
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Two Sunday Morning Links
Echoing some of the sentiments I expressed the other day, this morning’s Star editorial endorses the Toronto Police Services Board’s decision to deny promotions to nine officers recommended by Police Chief Bill Blair. Is it possible that these officers…
Continue reading